Bench & Squat PRs! Thanks to CT

Bigger Stronger Leaner Powerlifting & Strength Sports
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Just a quick update on my training.

I finally got over 355 (my previous personal best with bench).

Ever since I tried losing fat on my own, I made a few mistakes with the V-Diet (didn’t train right, and probably stayed on it too long). I ended up losing a lot of strength, and probably some muscle.

While training with CT, I’ve been constantly getting my strength back, and then some in a ton of different exercises.

I noticed that I was neglecting my shoulders, bis, tris, grip and abs. Now they’re all performing a lot better, and my muscular endurance has improved a ton (which I never thought would be possible while improving my strength).

Anyway, I got 360 with today’s bench, and just barely missed 365. I got it more than 3/4 of the way up, but it was going extremely slow, and nicked the hooks of the power rack, then stopped completely and I couldn’t lock it out. And this is all while 10 pounds lighter than the last time I got my previous best, 355.

This post is one part being happy about a new PR, and one part thanking CT for the training. I have been slacking lately though, and would probably have even better results if I had better motivation and determination.

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Awesome job man, how much was the squat?

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[quote]SWR-1240 wrote:
Just a quick update on my training.

I finally got over 355 (my previous personal best with bench).

[/quote]

Congratulations, nice job!

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[quote]ExNole wrote:
Awesome job man, how much was the squat?[/quote]

Oops. I forgot to mention it. I got 455 (barely).

I was high-box squatting with 450 a while back, and thought my max squat would be higher, but it wasn’t.

I also have been working on getting my squat lower (past parallel with the floor, and my hip as low as my knee), which was a big problem for me.

CT’s training really helped me with getting out of the hole.

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Copycat…

Ha kidding, thats awesome man.

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[quote]SWR-1240 wrote:
ExNole wrote:
Awesome job man, how much was the squat?

Oops. I forgot to mention it. I got 455 (barely).

I was high-box squatting with 450 a while back, and thought my max squat would be higher, but it wasn’t.

I also have been working on getting my squat lower (past parallel with the floor, and my hip as low as my knee), which was a big problem for me.

CT’s training really helped me with getting out of the hole.[/quote]

I guess you’re not allowed to talk about what you did specifically?

Good job.

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[quote]rrjc5488 wrote:
Copycat…

Ha kidding, thats awesome man.[/quote]

Hahaha, I was thinking about you when I typed it. I just happened to get my best PR today (in bench), and had to share. It seemed like it took me forever to get past where I was. Even the one time I got my old PR, I wasn’t able to get it again, even shortly after getting it.

Well, at least I posted it in a different forum (I think).

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[quote]Naphta wrote:
SWR-1240 wrote:
ExNole wrote:
Awesome job man, how much was the squat?

Oops. I forgot to mention it. I got 455 (barely).

I was high-box squatting with 450 a while back, and thought my max squat would be higher, but it wasn’t.

I also have been working on getting my squat lower (past parallel with the floor, and my hip as low as my knee), which was a big problem for me.

CT’s training really helped me with getting out of the hole.

I guess you’re not allowed to talk about what you did specifically?

Good job.
[/quote]

Well, I asked him about it, and he gave me the okay (basically saying it’s my routine since I’m paying for it), but he also mentioned that he may be using some newer techniques of his that he hasn’t released in article form yet (since he’s constantly evolving, and improving as a coach).

So for that reason, I don’t want to give too much away (even though he said it was fine).

Plus, what I’m doing is going to be specific to me, so it might not help someone who’s looking to do something similar. I think a program from an article would be better since it’s designed for a larger group of people.

I will say that I’ve been going through a few different phases so far, just about one per month, and I will be taking a de-loading week starting next week (which should feel great since I’m feeling like I could definitely use it).

CT noticed the signs that I should take a de-loading week long before I noticed. He saw the signs while I was still getting PR’s with almost every workout, and he was right on the money with it.

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[quote]SWR-1240 wrote:

Well, I asked him about it, and he gave me the okay (basically saying it’s my routine since I’m paying for it), but he also mentioned that he may be using some newer techniques of his that he hasn’t released in article form yet (since he’s constantly evolving, and improving as a coach).

So for that reason, I don’t want to give too much away (even though he said it was fine).

Plus, what I’m doing is going to be specific to me, so it might not help someone who’s looking to do something similar. I think a program from an article would be better since it’s designed for a larger group of people.

I will say that I’ve been going through a few different phases so far, just about one per month, and I will be taking a de-loading week starting next week (which should feel great since I’m feeling like I could definitely use it).

CT noticed the signs that I should take a de-loading week long before I noticed. He saw the signs while I was still getting PR’s with almost every workout, and he was right on the money with it.[/quote]

Thats cool. I am a little curious, but if eventually he talks about it in a new book or article, I can wait.

I’ve yet to do a full CT program ( I have used his ab workouts and a couple of his training ideas) but his methods are both advanced and simple at the same time, if that makes sense.

His strength training book is great.

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I rarely comment on this kind of stuff but it’s lame to say you made gains but can’t talk about how you got them…at least it is on these boards where everyone shares.

If you can’t discuss it don’t bring it up.

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SWR,
Nice job on the PRRs. Glad to see you made some good progress. And about time you let us know how things were going!

So, are you keeping the fat off with a good diet or did you move away from that?

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Congrats on the PRs man.

Both are impressive lifts.

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[quote]DominicanDL wrote:
I rarely comment on this kind of stuff but it’s lame to say you made gains but can’t talk about how you got them…at least it is on these boards where everyone shares.

If you can’t discuss it don’t bring it up.[/quote]

It’s funny how someone with 64 posts says that.

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Great Job SWR! So when are you gonna do a meet?

Malinda

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[quote]firebug9 wrote:
Great Job SWR! So when are you gonna do a meet?

Malinda[/quote]

Thanks. I’m not sure yet, but I just got a glimps into the future with my training in an email from CT.

I’ll be doing a bench spec. program for the next 4 weeks after my deloading week, and he’s estimating that I get to 380, possibly more!

I’m going to let CT dictate when I should start looking for a meet, so I don’t have any dates set yet, but I’m guessing maybe the end of Spring or this Summer.

Oh, and I haven’t mentioned my deadlift only because I haven’t been maxing out with that yet, but I definitely felt stronger with my deads in the last phase (not doing them in this phase).

My previous deadlift max was 435. I think that was my biggest weakness of the 3 lifts. I can’t wait to see where it’s at now.

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[quote]Arioch wrote:
SWR,
Nice job on the PRRs. Glad to see you made some good progress. And about time you let us know how things were going!

So, are you keeping the fat off with a good diet or did you move away from that?[/quote]

Well, that’s my biggest problem. I’m on a good diet, but it’s been hard to not cheat on it lately (I told CT them already).

Also, I didn’t mention that I just came off of the Velocity Diet until just recently, and of course, it would have been better if I told him when we first started training.

So yea, I gained some fat back, but not nearly as bad as I was, so the V-diet wasn’t all a waste (though I wouldn’t do it again without changing it around a little).

I’ve been looking different throughout each week; flat one day, fat another day, and slimmer and more muscular on another day. He already told me that it’s to be expected because of the way my calories have been cycling.

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[quote]SWR-1240 wrote:
firebug9 wrote:
Great Job SWR! So when are you gonna do a meet?

Malinda

Thanks. I’m not sure yet, but I just got a glimps into the future with my training in an email from CT.

I’ll be doing a bench spec. program for the next 4 weeks after my deloading week, and he’s estimating that I get to 380, possibly more!

I’m going to let CT dictate when I should start looking for a meet, so I don’t have any dates set yet, but I’m guessing maybe the end of Spring or this Summer.

Oh, and I haven’t mentioned my deadlift only because I haven’t been maxing out with that yet, but I definitely felt stronger with my deads in the last phase (not doing them in this phase).

My previous deadlift max was 435. I think that was my biggest weakness of the 3 lifts. I can’t wait to see where it’s at now.[/quote]

Thats not to bad. I was very comical today in the gym – tried(key word here) to pull sumo…225 felt easy at the top, but that bottom pull sure sucked!

Great job on the lifts…how has the rest of things gone? I hope to see ya back on the platform soon.

Malinda

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I’ll remember to kiss your Ars next time mate.

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[quote]DominicanDL wrote:
I’ll remember to kiss your Ars next time mate.[/quote]

What’s that all about?

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Nice to hear you’re doing so well SWR. I lost track of you at the end of the V; looks like you’ve been busy since, huh? :slight_smile:

Looking forward to hearing about your DL max when it comes.