Thursday, September 29, 2016

Deadlifts, what is wrong with me?

Thurs, 29 Sep 16

RDL: 225x2x5
Conventional deadlift: 225x2x5, 275x5, 315x3x5, 365x2, 365x1
OHP: 95x10, 115x5, 135x5, 155x5, 175x3, 195x2, 205x1

Since I can't compete anymore I thought I'd try conventional deadlift to see where it was it.  In the toilet is where it was at.  My quad injury from the other day really didn't hamper me after the first two plate warmups, but my back was horrible fatigued.  I think it was from screwing around with seated good mornings and a bunch of other upper back work yesterday.  I'm sure I can deadlift more, and maybe I will save them for home on the weekend. 

Since my back was toast I figured I'd try some OHP to see where that lift was at.  Managed to get up to 205 - I got dizzy after racking it and had to take a knee.  I've started a new blood pressure medication and that may have been a contributing factor.  I should have hobbled over to the BP machine in the gym and checked it right then.  Oh well.

I'm not sure where I stand with squatting tomorrow - that quad injury is still present, so I may pass on it and do a bit of light pumpy work to aid recovery.  Next week I think I'll dial back my work sets in everything slightly and take another run up against the maxes.  I'm getting to the point where I'm starting to get a few injuries a week - which suggests it's too much.


Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Squats: Building Strength

Squats: 135x10, 225x5, 275x5, 315x5, 345x3, 355x2, 365x1, 375x2, 375x1

Goal was to hit nine reps at the new weight, but I started to feel a weird pull/pain in my left rectus femoris.  I ran through the first of the 375s and felt a little pain.  I adjusted my clothes and setup and tried the second set and definitely felt it.  I eased up on the left side and used the right side to force the weight up and racked it.

Monday, September 26, 2016

Bench: Building Strength

Mon, 26 Sep 16

Bench: 135x20, 185x10, 215x2x5, 230x2x5, 240x2x5

That went well.  I'll add another 5 next day.

Friday, September 23, 2016

Squats: Building Strength

Fri, 23 Sept 16

Squats: 135x10, 225x2x5, 275x2x5, 315x2x5, 340x5, 365x3x3

It was still pretty hard lol.  I'm going to add 10 lbs, but go for singles, for say 8-9 reps.

Thursday, September 22, 2016

Bench: Building Strength

Thurs, 22 Sept 16

Bench: 135x20, 185x10, 205x10, 225x2x5, 235x2x5

Much better than last time.  I'll toss 5 more on next time.

Machine workout

Thurs, 22 Sep 16

Did another machine workout today, also some heavy barbell shrugs.  Played around a little to see what my OHP is - managed 175, but failed 195.  That was beltless though.  I will be benching tonight.

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Squats: Building Strength

Weds, 21 Sept 16

Squats: 135x10, 225x2x5, 275x2x5, 315x2x5, 340x5, 365x3x3

I made it through, but that last set was a growler.  ie - It was fortunate that Slipknot, "Duality" came on in my new "Be Aggressive" mix.  Because I was growling my way through that set.  I think I'll leave the weight the same next session as it was simply an RPE of 8-9.

Tuesday, September 20, 2016

Machine workout

Tues, 20 Sept 16

I did a light, pumpy machine workout today to get the blood flowing.  I'll squat and bench tomorrow.

I did seated leg extensions, 45 deg hip extension, bunch of chest/shoulder cable pulls, pec deck, pec deck lat pull, and wide bar lat pulldowns.  Not a lot of leg work as I get most of that via squats and deads.

Monday, September 19, 2016

Bench: Building Strength

Mon, 19 Sept 16

Bench: 135x2x10, 185x10, 205x10, 225x4x4

The 225 felt really heavy at first.  I got 4 on the first set, and decided to go 4x4 as opposed to raising the weight more.

Deadlifts: Building Strength

Mon, 19 Sep 16

Deadlifts: 225x10, 275x2x5, 300x2x5, 325x5, 340x3x3

Slightly less volume than last session, left leg developed bruising behind the knee after my squat session, but I didn't feel it.  I didn't notice it until my wife mentioned it.  Got a little twinge in my upper left hamstring - we'll see how that plays out.  Getting old sucks!

Friday, September 16, 2016

Squats: Testing Max

Fri, 16 Sep 16

Squats: 135x10, 225x2x5, 275x5, 315x5, 365x3, 395x2, 405x1, 425x1

I felt pretty strong today, so I decided to test my max squat.  Belted, knee and wrist wraps - no stims.  The 405 went sooooo easy I was like - I'm going to try more.  Initially I started to load up 415, but I said screw it and loaded up 425.  I'm pretty sure I could have dive bombed it, but I was a little cautious and took my time - decreased my stretch reflex a bit.  That being said, it was perhaps a little shallower than I'd like (but I'd need a camera to know for sure), but it was nowhere's near being grindy.

Call me shallow, but a bro was watching me lift.  (20-30 ish years old)  He was impressed at the weight I was moving, especially when I told him I was 50.  He said I was jacked lol, and finds it so impressive when all the young people bitch and complain and I'm putting in the work, and I got two fist bumps.  It's weird, but that made me feel pretty good.  Does it make me shallow?  I don't know.  Weightlifting is really one of those things that only other weightlifters get.  My friends and family don't know what it is to move 425 lbs.  That's just a shit ton of weight - is it good, is it bad?  What is good, what is bad?  Bro's know.

Lol.  #brosknow.

Thursday, September 15, 2016

Post-injury report

Thurs, 15 Sep 16

So two weeks ago today I did something to my ribs, sternum, whatever - just to the right of my sternum.  By the end of the day Thursday I couldn't even pick up our kitten.  I went to emerg that night where I was diagnosed with, "you did something to your chest, let it heal for two weeks".  I iced/heated, anti-inflammatories, and rest.  I went back to them gym Monday and Tuesday this week while I was working up in Sydney, NS.  I did squats beltless up to 365 lbs, and a bunch of non-chest upper body and arm machine crap.  I went back Tuesday and did some lighter squats and machine work.  Today I did just machine pumpy work.  I'm going to squat again tomorrow, and maybe try benching on Monday.  I'm in no rush and really want it to heal.  It still hurt to sneeze or cough two days ago - so I'm under the impression it's somewhat fragile still.

Thursday, September 1, 2016

Deadlifts: Building Strength

Thurs, 1 Sept 16

Deadlifts: 225x10, 315x2x5, 365x5, 405x2, 425x1, 405x5, 365x2x5, 315x8

Felt a weird popping in my chest on the top set - might have been my belt compressing a rib or something.  Anyhow, it felt weird after, so I didn't try to go any higher than the 425.  Not bad considering my tested max was 445 back in November, before I hit top level super fat and started my cut, and since that 445 was conventional and not sumo.