Adarq.org

Week 31

Saturday - 11/01/14

-= Workout Log =-

Pendlay Rows
45 x 10                              >> 2min rests.
95 x 5
135 x 3
155 x 3
195 x 2
225 x 1
245 x 1
240 x 6 PR
240 x 6 PR
240 x 6 PR

Seated Cable Rows
160 x 12 PR                          >> 60sec rests.
160 x 15 PR

Pull ups
BW x 3                    >> 60sec rests
+20lbs x 3
+40lbs x 1
+60lbs x 1
BW x 10
BW x 10 PR
BW x 5 PR
BW x 4 PR
BW x 4 PR

Super Strict Hanging Leg Raises
10                    >> 60sec rests.
10
10

Still trying to figure out what hamstring/lowerback exercise to do in my damn gym. The back ext sucks the way its built, makes it insanely difficult to add weight. The seated leg curls make the left side of my lower back cramp up, so I stopped doing those. The prone leg curl machine sucks cuz the pad where i put my feet is tilted. I would be working out my legs unequally.

Maybe goodmornings then?

Also, starting monday, I'll be tracking my bodyweight.

i like RDLs better than GMs because i feel like i can engage my glutes more easily throughout the movement. both hit lower back pretty well, and obviously hamstrings. YMMV.

that said, you're already doing DLs so if you want a curl instead of an extension movement, maybe try swiss ball hamstring curls? or natural GHR? and then swiss ball or bench hypers for your lower back?

I used to love doing RDLs (moreso than regular deadlifts actually) but they just got so damn impractical. After a certain weight its a pain in the ass to unrack the weight and take a step back, and also to re-rack it.

I'll look for a spot to do natural GHR's. At reverse hypers too, i completely forgot those existed! Never done them before actually.

Week 32

Monday - 11/03/14

-= Workout Log =-

Squat
135 x 8
135 x 5
185 x 5
185 x 3
225 x 3
275 x 1
315 x 1
345 x 1
365 x 1
385 x 1 PR

Hack Squat Machine Calf Raises
BW x 5                                    >> 60sec rests.
+90lbs x 5
+180lbs x 3
+270lbs x 1
+250lbs x 12 PR
+250lbs x 12 PR
+250lbs x 8
+250lbs x 8
+250lbs x 8

Bench Press
45 x 10
95 x 8
135 x 5
165 x 3
205 x 2
245 x 1
215 x 8 PR
185 x 4 (paused)
185 x 4 (paused)
205 x 2 (paused)
215 x 6

Super Strict Lateral Raises
25's x 3                                   >> 60sec rests.
30's x 2
35's x 1
40's x 1
35's x 8 PR
35's x 6 PR
35's x 5 PR

My squat was just... wow. 315 felt light as a feather. So I loaded up 345 instead of 335, planning to go down to 305 and do my usually 3x6. However, 345 felt light too! I said fuck it, loaded up 365. The speed in which I squatted that motherfucker was great, and it didnt feel heavy, so I loaded up 385. Got super pumped up. Unracked it, still didnt feel heavy on my back. It felt as heavy as 315 did last week. I repped it. Holy mother of shit, I bounced out of the hole so fast I couldnt believe how easy i made it look. Might have had 405 in me. But I really want to stress out that the SPEED in which I lifted 385 was incredible. There was absolutely no grind in this lift, and I felt as though if I tested my TRUE max, whatever it was today, there wouldnt have been a grind there either. It would either be a miss or a hit.

I have no idea how this happened. Maybe once a year i feel SUPER SUPER good and i just go for it and crush PR's. Funny because I was tired as hell from walking for over an hour before I got to the gym. Planned on repping out 315 afterwards, but didnt want to burn out.


Then I had a powerlifter help me with my bench. The guy is 60 years old and still benches 3 plates. Used to do 385 for 10 reps back in the day he tells me. I definitely believe it.
This guy really helped me with my form. I dont hitch anymore with my ass. In addition, i keep my elbows tucked in and drive out off the chest much better.

 

Week 32

Wednesday - 11/05/14

-= Workout Log =-

Deadlift
155 x 5
205 x 3
245 x 3
245 x 1
295 x 1
335 x 1
360 x 1
395 x 1
360 x 6 PR

Pull ups
BW x 5                    >> 2min rests, then 60sec rests for BW pullups, 3min rest for final set
+20lbs x 3
+40lbs x 2
+60lbs x 1
+40lbs x 6
+40lbs x 6
+40lbs x 6 PR
BW x 7 PR
BW x 4 PR
BW x 8

Seated Cable Rows
140 x 5                    >> 60sec rests.
185 x 1
165 x 12
165 x 10 PR
165 x 8 PR

Ab Wheel Rollouts
7ft x 10                         >> 60sec rests.
7ft x 10
7ft x 7

395 wasnt too bad. I'l be sure to get 405 on video in a couple of weeks. ExRx puts 360x6 at a 418 1RM.
360x6 matches my ALL TIME PR by the way.

Thu 29 Sept - 335 x 5
Wed 05 Nov - 360 x 6

That's a 25lb increase in 6 weeks!

Week 32

Friday - 11/07/14

-= Workout Log =-

Squat
135 x 8                         >> 2min rests.
135 x 5
185 x 5
185 x 3
225 x 3
275 x 1
315 x 1
345 x 1
305 x 6 PR
305 x 6 PR
305 x 6 PR

Hack Squat Machine Calf Raises
BW x 5                                    >> 60sec rests.
+90lbs x 5
+180lbs x 3
+270lbs x 1
+250lbs x 12
+250lbs x 12
+250lbs x 10 PR
+250lbs x 10 PR
+250lbs x 10 PR

Bench Press
45 x 10                     >> 2min rests.
95 x 8
135 x 5
165 x 3
205 x 2
245 x 1
225 x 6
225 x 5
225 x 4 PR

Incline DB Bench Press
60's x 12 PR                     >> 60sec rests.
60's x 8 PR

Super Strict Lateral Raises
30's x 3                                  >> 60sec rests.
35's x 1
40's x 1
35's x 10 PR
35's x 7 PR
35's x 5 PR

Standing Shoulder Press (left side only)
45 x 12 PR
45 x 10 PR

Squat was damn solid. Figured out how I managed 385 the other day. I could have done it again today.
It was a change in my form... now I break at the knees and go directly down. Before, when I would take a breath before my rep, I would hitch up a tiny bit and break at the hips a little too early and push my ass a tiny bit back too much.
View here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBH3aag0gwM&list=UU7w8C29NWkwfnu8gYnkIM1Q

Now I break strictly at the knees first (by an instant) and got rid of the hitch ever so slightly. I did a few reps both ways, and it was DEFINITELY easier with this breaking at the knees way. My lower back also stays straighter this way:

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRAU-QS5_-g" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRAU-QS5_-g</a>

It's a very subtle change. Easy to feel the difference, hard to see it in video. And it lets me add poundages and keep my lower back straighter (the angles aren't the same in the two vids though).

Found this from 2 years ago. I was 197 pounds bw:

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2MLgzVhyYs" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2MLgzVhyYs</a>

Date is end 26 Nov '12. That's two years ago. Man, this is so de-motivating to me to see myself spin my wheels for years and years and years.
Although after that it dropped to 315x3 and then 315x1. Then I hit a hard finals week and didnt lift for three weeks. Came back and squat was at 275x5 lol.

Finally worked back up to a 310x5 ATG squat at 188lbs bw on 15 Aug '13. Hmmm... so it took 9 months to get back there. holy fucking shit. Then by 12 Oct '13 I was stuck at 315x5 for weeks and weeks and droped to 295x5 for no reason at 193lbs bw.

Then I didnt update my log until March of 2014 and was back at a 275x5 squat. idn wtf.




Also disappointing how I benched 230x5 on 10 Nov '13 at a bodyweight of 193lbs.
A whole year ago I was benching what I'm benching today, yet I was a few pounds lighter.
In a whole year i couldn't progress on my bench. Instead, I went backwards a bit.


I really can't wait to be hitting all time PR's on ALLLLLL of my lifts so that i can stop fucking looking back and only look forward from now on.

Also, I'm 200lbs bw at the gym now. I think I will cut after this month. I want to get back to my 190lb self, but I thikn that's too light. I have more muscle now. 193 sounds right.

switching rep scheme is a good idea. also, have you considered emphasizing more accessory work? what do you think is holding you back? maybe it's time to try some dedicated tricep work, for example.

because yeah, you're significantly bigger than i am but i got my bench to 225 x 5,5,4 earlier this year without trying that hard. something's amiss there for you.