@max13 Thanks bud! My partner has a belly, but his is not nearly as grand as mine. He’s getting into a good position on his conventional stance, he just needs to practice more. My prediction for him is lifting success.
@kpsnap It is definitely not the only option for my partner. He’s a surprisingly limber and mobile 240 pound man. Like I told max above, I’m confident he will have success no matter what method he applies. And as long as powerlifting doesn’t require me to go balls-out for reps, I believe I should be able to make a smooth pull if I ever find myself on the platform.
@ChickenLittle Thanks! I’m still hacking a bunch of crap up, but my shoulders are recovered from the oozing pus sunburn wounds I had last week. Progress is progress. I’m glad to hear that the hand wiggle has other applications besides getting the old paws ready to hang on to a barbell real tight!
Notes: Got out of work early today, so I ran solo. I was pretty drained from yesterday, but I decided to go for a PR on my strict press. Not happening today.
@twojarslave This might help you…looking at your your last squat video your chicken winged . Try and get your elbow under the bar more it will help tighten things up.
Thanks @bulldog9899. I agree, and that is something I will work on more next week. I’ve put some effort into that into the past, but not recently. My arms are long-ish and getting my elbows under the bar in a low-bar squat has always been problematic.
Thanks for the feedback! I’ll get Monday’s top set on film, see if I can improve at all.
Notes: No surprise that I performed like crap after eating like crap all weekend. I did, however, take advantage of the cool weather to thoroughly clean my house, which always seems to result in better decisions when it comes to what I choose to eat. I also got a new roommate (my old one moved in with her sister a few months ago), so I’ve got a good chunk of change back in my pocket now. There’s no laws against taking money from younger, good-looking women to live with me, but sometimes I feel like there should be.
My partner’s birthday was today, and I was hoping he’d do his bodyweight (240) for the same reps as his age (34). I couldn’t talk him into that since he was still feeling 405x15 from last week, but he did manage to hit 365x11. All paused 2 seconds except the last one. I guess he gets a pass.
@bulldog9899 I TRIED getting my arms further under the bar, but they do not like to hold that position at all! Any suggestions are welcome!
Maybe this will help with your arm placement in squats.
When I do squats, if I don’t warmup shoulders first I can’t get my arms into proper position for holding a squat bar. My warmup includes 3 x 10 face pulls up to l00 lbs, and some overhead cable shoulder work up to about 60 lbs. My shoulders are then sufficiently limber for about any workout.
@biker and @bulldog9899 I appreciate the help. It has been a while since I’ve put any effort into refining my squat, and it is far from perfect. I’ve also never done squat to warm up my shoulders, and I can see how that might help too. Thank you both!
@countrygirl2016 Thank you pretty lady! I’m really glad to see you getting into this!
225x13 pronated
225x10 supinated
225x10 supinated
225x10 pronated with straps
Dips
10 (PR)
8
5
5
Cable Circuit
Pulldowns
Facepulls
Curls
3 sets no rest.
Notes: Today is the first time I’ve done paused benches for reps. I had plenty of strength left, but my back was cramping up wicked bad so I capped the sets at 5.
I also tried pronated barbell rows for the first time in a while. My wrist screamed out on the second set, so I went to supinated. The straps felt good on the last set, and I may use those for a while to get some more work in with a barbell.
I also hit a set of 10 on dips. I’m getting better at these, but I’m still not good at them. My first few sets I was swinging like a pendulum. That’s getting under control, and I’m getting more comfortable with the movement.
Thank you for motivating me I see progress and it’s hard not to keep pushing now!!! As I said before I very much enjoy reading your log and seeing the videos. Very impressive!
@2busy Yep, it is in the forum rule book, somewhere towards the back I think.
Thursday 8/11/16
BW 265
Deadlift
135x5
225x5
315x3
405x1
455x1
And then we did a LOT of singles at 405, emphasizing speed and form. Probably about 30 pulls in total. I tried some with a “flatter” back, but I’m not sure it will benefit me. I went back to my natural pulls and by the end of the session the bar was just flying up. It was fun, but I’m feeling these in my legs a whole lot more.
Notes: I tried to do some dips but my left trap felt a little off, so I just banged out some DB Bench instead. Got out of work early again so lifted solo.
@Canada_K Thanks for stopping in, neighbor, and thanks for the kind words!
I feel compelled to amend your keen observation about my weekend behavior patterns. I made note of that pattern as well, so this past weekend I did not, in fact, eat like crap or feel like crap. I wasn’t perfect, but I was decent. 1000 or so alcohol calories was my greatest infraction.
I have a new roommate now and she is SUPER cool. She knew what she was getting into with my lifting lifestyle, so I made sure there were no surprises. She’s even made me dinner and given me two really legit back massages in her first week. She’s taking on some organization projects, improved the place already and she’s a real joy to have around the house.
This all seems to feed into my decision-making patterns, and having a nice clean house and cool people around who want you to succeed is a real boost. It just seems easier than when I’m living the full-blown bachelor lifestyle. I’m putting things together pretty well this week and looking to push down into the 250’s soon.
I’m also not so sure I could snap you in half. They didn’t cover that in my bouncer training. The best I could probably do is chuck the 88 pound kettlebell in your direction. That’ll leave a mark.
@anon71262119 Thanks for the encouragement. I’m eager to move out of the full house look and shrink down to a size where I’m truly athletic. Well, truly athletic for a mid 30’s desk jockey who likes beer, at least.
Looking good 
I see progress and it’s hard not to keep pushing now!!! As I said before I very much enjoy reading your log and seeing the videos. Very impressive!
