BBB and Progress Updates

The3Commandments · May 2, 2011, 2:29pm

Ramp2 Week 2. Disappointing day on squats. Chose 280 as my weight for 13-15 reps, only got 8 (got 11 on same weight last week).

Possible explanations:
a) daily leg training catching up to me after the first week.
b) I’m doing more volume than BBB prescribes, and this may be catching up to me.
c) I’ve eaten a bit less the past few days, but I haven’t dropped weight so I don’t think this is necessarily the issue.
d) Perhaps doing deadlifts on what is supposed to be my off day is the problem.

Anywho, disappointing, but I shall persevere! We’ll see how the week progresses.

F*** you, Ramp2.

The3Commandments · May 2, 2011, 2:39pm

Or maybe I just didn’t approach today with the intensity that I normally do and didn’t squat like my life depended on it. None of my upper body lifts seem to be suffering, but then again none of them have jumped up so significantly in the past few weeks. Another aspect of it is that it seemed to be the endurance that was the problem more than the weight.

Oregand · May 2, 2011, 3:51pm

[quote]The3Commandments wrote:
Ramp2 Week 2. Disappointing day on squats. Chose 280 as my weight for 13-15 reps, only got 8 (got 11 on same weight last week).

Possible explanations:
a) daily leg training catching up to me after the first week.
b) I’m doing more volume than BBB prescribes, and this may be catching up to me.
c) I’ve eaten a bit less the past few days, but I haven’t dropped weight so I don’t think this is necessarily the issue.
d) Perhaps doing deadlifts on what is supposed to be my off day is the problem.

Anywho, disappointing, but I shall persevere! We’ll see how the week progresses.

F*** you, Ramp2.[/quote]

Me thinks D might be doing it. Then again it might be the volume overall that’s catching up on you.

Sick numbers though for a dude who’s less than 4 months in, your a serious inspiration man. Can’t wait to get onto BBB with you.

The3Commandments · May 2, 2011, 7:11pm

At this point, I’m just going to chalk it up to my having been a giant vagina today. Wednesday, it’s going to be 285 for my 10-12 day, and that work will get done. If not, then I’ll reassess my diet and such. I need to make sure that I’m eating nearly all the time.

The3Commandments · May 3, 2011, 2:31pm

Made progress today–all my numbers were superior to last week’s. Good workout. I want those squat numbers tomorrow, though.

Thought on Ramp2–I feel like Ramp1 is all about physical adjustments, i.e. getting used to the rep ranges and rest periods. Training through soreness.

Ramp2 is much more psychological and CNS-intensive. I really feel very overtrained right now–not wanting to do my workouts and such as I get ready to do them. The key, at least for me, is twofold: a) when I enter the gym, it’s game-time and my mindset fundamentally changes; b) being sure that proper form is always being used. Injuries kill the whole premise of BBB, so you have to be careful about form and such esp when working legs every day.

It’s really the psychological demands of knowing that I absolutely killed it on hack squats today, but that I’ll be doing back squats tomorrow then hack squats the next day.

Almost halfway through the ramp though. Cheers.

Oregand · May 3, 2011, 2:37pm

Good stuff man,

Im sure youll nail those numbers tomorrow. I defiantly can see the kind of phyc toll this work loaad would have on you.

I watched the videos and read Dave tates articles again on squatting so ill be much more conscious of my form from now on. Im also going to use a box until I learn to use my glutes and Hamstrings properly. So Box squats ftw.

The3Commandments · May 3, 2011, 2:39pm

Do you wear a belt while squatting? People have varying opinions, but I really like using a belt while squatting. Reminds me to keep my abs and back tight, and gives the muscles something to press against. Bought an Inzer belt a few weeks ago, and it’s fantastic.

Oregand · May 3, 2011, 3:27pm

[quote]The3Commandments wrote:
Do you wear a belt while squatting? People have varying opinions, but I really like using a belt while squatting. Reminds me to keep my abs and back tight, and gives the muscles something to press against. Bought an Inzer belt a few weeks ago, and it’s fantastic.[/quote]

I had always heard that belt wherent great as they took away from your ab strength. Atm all of my main lifts are raw, save chalk.

Do you think itd be worth my time buying a belt?

The3Commandments · May 3, 2011, 4:21pm

I mean, it’s ultimately your decision. I look at the belt from two different perspectives that both justify its use: a) it reminds me to keep my abs tight and gives me an extra sense of security in terms of knowing that all of my musculature is locked in; b) I do squats primarily to work my legs and deadlifts primarily to work my back and hamstrings. If my lower back strength is a limitation in those exercises, then if a belt helps then so be it.

I also use straps on deadlifts for the same reason–I work grip strength with farmer’s walks and by using fat gripz for pullups and such. I’m interested in bodybuilding, not powerlifting.

One thing I don’t like is how people talk out of both sides of their mouth on the issue, saying that belts add to lifts inappropriately while also saying that they don’t help at all. Thing is, only one of those can be true. Personally, my first priority is to lift heavy stuff while remaining injury-free. I feel that the belt helps me to do this, so I have no issue using it.

I’ve actually gotten to the point where I wear the belt throughout my workout until I need to use the dip belt. I just don’t buy the argument about core strength being a huge issue, particularly for someone interested primarily in bodybuilding.

One other thing re: core strength is that I do almost all my exercises standing up–overhead press, barbell curls, etc. With the exception of bench press movements and leg pressing, I’m always standing.

Oregand · May 3, 2011, 4:30pm

[quote]The3Commandments wrote:
I mean, it’s ultimately your decision. I look at the belt from two different perspectives that both justify its use: a) it reminds me to keep my abs tight and gives me an extra sense of security in terms of knowing that all of my musculature is locked in; b) I do squats primarily to work my legs and deadlifts primarily to work my back and hamstrings. If my lower back strength is a limitation in those exercises, then if a belt helps then so be it.

I also use straps on deadlifts for the same reason–I work grip strength with farmer’s walks and by using fat gripz for pullups and such. I’m interested in bodybuilding, not powerlifting.

One thing I don’t like is how people talk out of both sides of their mouth on the issue, saying that belts add to lifts inappropriately while also saying that they don’t help at all. Thing is, only one of those can be true. Personally, my first priority is to lift heavy stuff while remaining injury-free. I feel that the belt helps me to do this, so I have no issue using it.

I’ve actually gotten to the point where I wear the belt throughout my workout until I need to use the dip belt. I just don’t buy the argument about core strength being a huge issue, particularly for someone interested primarily in bodybuilding.

I’ll agree with that one, I’m not here for power lifting. I’m here to bodybuild.

I would use one if A) it would stop the limitations my lower back puts on my squats and B) if it would help keep me injury free. I’ve never trained with anyone who knew enough about them so I just went on what I knew and what I read. I work on my core quite a bit and as you said squats are mainly for legs so I couldn see any reason not to use it if it would help keep mensafe and achieve my goals.

I’ll take it your talking about a PL belt, one that’s both thick argue front and back. Not an Oly belt that’s thin at the front?

Funny that you bring up straps, I’ve been having a crisis with them for a while now. I watched shelby doing DLs and read that he never uses an alternated grip to DL but straps instead. I tried swapping my altered grip for straps a few weeks back and couldn’t get the bar off the ground. Do you think I’d be better dropping the alternated grip altogether and focus on using a double overhand grip every time?
One other thing re: core strength is that I do almost all my exercises standing up–overhead press, barbell curls, etc. With the exception of bench press movements and leg pressing, I’m always standing. [/quote]

Oregand · May 3, 2011, 4:33pm

[quote]The3Commandments wrote:
I mean, it’s ultimately your decision. I look at the belt from two different perspectives that both justify its use: a) it reminds me to keep my abs tight and gives me an extra sense of security in terms of knowing that all of my musculature is locked in; b) I do squats primarily to work my legs and deadlifts primarily to work my back and hamstrings. If my lower back strength is a limitation in those exercises, then if a belt helps then so be it.

I also use straps on deadlifts for the same reason–I work grip strength with farmer’s walks and by using fat gripz for pullups and such. I’m interested in bodybuilding, not powerlifting.

One thing I don’t like is how people talk out of both sides of their mouth on the issue, saying that belts add to lifts inappropriately while also saying that they don’t help at all. Thing is, only one of those can be true. Personally, my first priority is to lift heavy stuff while remaining injury-free. I feel that the belt helps me to do this, so I have no issue using it.

I’ve actually gotten to the point where I wear the belt throughout my workout until I need to use the dip belt. I just don’t buy the argument about core strength being a huge issue, particularly for someone interested primarily in bodybuilding.

ternated grip altogether and focus on using a double overhand grip every time?
One other thing re: core strength is that I do almost all my exercises standing up–overhead press, barbell curls, etc. With the exception of bench press movements and leg pressing, I’m always standing. [/quote]

I’ll agree with that one, I’m not here for power lifting. I’m here to bodybuild.

I would use one if A) it would stop the limitations my lower back puts on my squats and B) if it would help keep me injury free. I’ve never trained with anyone who knew enough about them so I just went on what I knew and what I read. I work on my core quite a bit and as you said squats are mainly for legs so I couldn see any reason not to use it if it would help keep mensafe and achieve my goals.

I’ll take it your talking about a PL belt, one that’s both thick argue front and back. Not an Oly belt that’s thin at the front?

Funny that you bring up straps, I’ve been having a crisis with them for a while now. I watched shelby doing DLs and read that he never uses an alternated grip to DL but straps instead. I tried swapping my altered grip for straps a few weeks back and couldn’t get the bar off the ground. Do you think I’d be better dropping the alternated grip and focus in using a double overhand with or without straps for all my sets?

JT111 · May 4, 2011, 10:39am

You flame me with those lifts??? Jesus…

The3Commandments · May 7, 2011, 1:26pm

[quote]JT111 wrote:
You flame me with those lifts??? Jesus…[/quote]

Your posts were redundant and superfluous–stupidity doesn’t have a bench press max. It’s just a matter of content.

The3Commandments · May 7, 2011, 8:22pm

Today is the last day of Ramp 2. As with previous ramp weeks, I use the last day as a tester for the next week, meaning that today I have 60 second rest periods. F***.

Yesterday’s squatting was still a bit stalled, which is strange since I’m still progressing on all other lifts.

I’ve actually upped the volume as well. I usually do 5 sets per exercise with the 90 seconds rest for the first 4 and 60 secs for the 5th. However, with my primary thigh exercise, I usually do between 7 and 9 sets.

For example, here was squatting yesterday:

300(5); 295(4); 285(5)(5); pause in hole: 255(6)(6); 245(8)(8); 3 second descent with pause: 225(8)

Pretty brutal.

Last week of Ramp2 coming up! I’m actually now used to doing full body every day. I’ve never done consistent 60 second rest periods before, so that will be the big challenge of this week. Soreness has worn off somewhat, which is nice.

EDIT: Work went well today. Top set of bench press was 220x8. Good progress considering 2.5 weeks ago I did 210x7 for a top set.

JT111 · May 7, 2011, 11:04pm

[quote]The3Commandments wrote:

[quote]JT111 wrote:
You flame me with those lifts??? Jesus…[/quote]

Your posts were redundant and superfluous–stupidity doesn’t have a bench press max. It’s just a matter of content.[/quote]

Maybe for you. Argument still stands, why bother posting gratuitous comments in the first place; or for that matter mock my lifts - especially when mine are superior.

The3Commandments · May 8, 2011, 11:35am

[quote]JT111 wrote:

[quote]The3Commandments wrote:

[quote]JT111 wrote:
You flame me with those lifts??? Jesus…[/quote]

Your posts were redundant and superfluous–stupidity doesn’t have a bench press max. It’s just a matter of content.[/quote]

Maybe for you. Argument still stands, why bother posting gratuitous comments in the first place; or for that matter mock my lifts - especially when mine are superior.[/quote]

Firstly, the only lift on which you do appreciably more than me is bench. Again, though, our relative lifts are neither here nor there. I’m going to explain why I (along with many others) flamed your thread. We flame threads in hopes that posters will not make stupid or superfluous threads in the future. I’ll let you have the final word on it, but after that I’d rather not respond (although I will read whatever your response might say) so as to avoid a protracted e-fight.

You made two posts, one on the BB forum and one on the Beginners forum. The post on the BB forum was one that would easily be solved by a simple search instead of making a new thread. But moreover, both posts just had to do with how to build “full arms”–i.e. the posts were redundant (two posts with the same content) and superfluous (could have been solved by simple search). Both of those terms I mean objectively–they were superfluous and redundant not just for me, but for the forum in general.

The fact that you squat less than you bench only matters insofar as it relates to the fact that the two posts you made were about building “full arms” when you clearly have major deficiencies that you should be more concerned about presently.

Then, you make another post with a made up routine intended with the intention: “My main aim is to specifically bring up biceps thickness, back, and shoulders.” No mention of legs at all, at least until you say that your biceps and back aren’t up to your legs physique-wise. Seriously, most read that and just think “Get that shit out of here.” And then you say you’re aiming for “pure hypertrophy,” as if that means a damn thing in the absence of strength gains.

So, ultimately, those three posts left me (and I would presume many) with a few suppositions about your approach to lifting–crappy priorities, inane reluctance to do a program that has already worked for people instead of making your own.

I have nothing against you or anything, but you made three posts that all clearly scream out to everyone, “I have not read anything on this site.” This site has a ton of useful information, so when people come on and say, “Hey, guys, I made up this routine how does it look for bringing up back and biceps up with my legs” when they are squatting 300lbs, the thinking is that this person is too lazy to do their own research, so who would think they would make good progress in the gym anyway.

JT111 · May 8, 2011, 7:07pm