Do Meatheads Dream of Iron Sheep?

Monday 6/2/14

BW: 284

Squat

135x5
225x5
275x5
315x5
365x1
385x1 Short-lived PR
405x1 PR
315x3

Praise be to Mark Rippetoe and the low-bar squat technique. 405 went up pretty easy. Video to be posted later.

Bench Press

135x5
185x5
225x5
240x4
240x3
230x3

Not my best bench day, but who fucking cares. 405 baby!

Lat PD

210x10
210x10
210x9

Weighted situp

5lbs x 15
5lbs x 15

I’m glad I got 405 out of my system. It will help me focus on the fat loss for a while. So far, so good this week. Okay. So far, so good TODAY.

4 wheels is a huge milestone. Great work.

Thanks jjackkrash. Unfortunately, my buddy posted the video to my facebook page and deleted it from his phone. I think it is property of facebook now, with no way to post here, so we’ll have to wait until I can recruit a more reliable cameraman or camerawoman to film my next set. Or maybe I’ll just get with the times and purchase a piece of gadgetry to make my own films with.

Wednesday 6/4/14

BW 284

Deadlift

135x5
225x5
315x5
405x6
455x1
495x1

I used straps for the first time today on 405 and up. I liked them on my heavy work set and will continue using them for the near future, at least. I did NOT like them on my heavy singles. It was mental, as strapping myself to the bar interfered with my customary psych-up routine that I have used to this point. I’ll give them another try on heavy singles next week.

Seated OHP

115x5
145x5
175x5
175x5
175x5

Work set PR. 180 next week.

Standing Calf Raise

580x12
580x12

Barbell Curl

75x12
75x12

Flat bench DB Press

35x15
60x12
80x10

Power clean + Military press

135x1

I wanted to try a power clean. It felt good, so I decided to try a standing military press after the clean. It felt good too. I am considering dropping front squats on Friday, doing regular squats for a 2nd day per week and power cleans plus some assistance work. I need to give it some thought and do something that makes sense. I’ve been running this program for 9 months, it may be time to try something a little different. I want to squat more often and work in power cleans because Rippetoe says so and he hasn’t led me astray yet.

20 min sauna
10 min hot tub

Friday 6/6/14

BW 283

Squat

135x5
225x5
275x5
335x5
335x5
335x5

20lb work set PR. 345 next week.

Power clean

135x8
135x5
135x5
135x5

First sets of this exercise and I like it so far.

Wide grip BP

135x12
185x10
205x8

Neutral grip chins

BWx2
BWx2

Going in the right direction on the scale again. Plenty of room for improvement next week, starting with the disposal of a jar of nacho cheese dip that someone else put in the fridge.

I am stronger than I realized on squat. I love squatting now. Thank you Mr. Rippetoe!

Time for a beer and a lobster roll.

Monday 6/9/14

BW 284

Squat

135x5
225x5
275x5
315x5
315x4
225x10

315 was a grind today so I backed off a bit.

Bench Press

135x5
185x5
225x5
240x5
240x5
240x4

Widening the grip and feeling good.

Lat PD

210x10
210x7
210x7

Weighted situp

5lbs x15
5lbs x10

Shrugs with the bench press machine

250x15
250x15

20 min sauna
10 min hot tub
5 laps in the pool

Wednesday 6/11/14

BW 283

Deadlift

135x5
225x5
315x5
405x6
455x1
495xFail

Strict military press (standing)

115x5
145x5
175x3
175x3
135x6

Much harder than seated.

Standing calf raise

580x12
580x12

Barbell curl

Unlabeled barbell x 12
Heavier unlabeled barbell x 8

Dumbbell flat bench press

35x15
55x12
75x10
85x8
95x5

Front squat rep out

135x12

20 min sauna
10 min hot tub

Losing weight is not that hard. 283 pound men with very little muscle do it all the time. I have a big advantage over such men and thus no real excuse. Feeling good so far this week.

No surprise on finding standing OHP harder than seated. My experience as well, but personally I much prefer standing; it really depends on the goal and the lifter. If isolating the shoulders is a priority, do it seated. If you’re looking for a compound fullbody movement, do it standing.

Keep working, good sir!

Yesterday was a dry-run of sorts for standing OHP. The last time I tried it was WAY back when I started doing barbell work. It seemed like too much strain on my back at the time. Deadlifting beforehand surely exacerbated this.

Fast forward to present. Stronger back, stronger body, stronger lifter. I think standing OHP is a better tool for me while I am dropping the fat. I also support the general concept of lifting on my feet whenever possible, i.e. don’t do something sitting that can be done standing.

Same for me, as I consider myself somewhat of a functional-fitness guy and I think standing OHP makes more sense in that regard. I like the feeling of my abs and lats contracting to support a heavy OHP. However, I concede that big, strong bodybuilders may derive more benefit from seated OHP if it targets their shoulders better and that is their primary goal.

Friday 6/13/14

BW 283

Squat

135x5
185x5
225x5
275x5
315x5
315x5
365x4

Tried knee wraps on one set of 315. Not sure if I like them. Need to learn the right way to wrap. I definitely liked my last set. It was a real test for me.

Wide grip bench press

135x8
185x5
225x5
240x4
240x3
240x4

This was my widest grip I have ever used. It felt okay, but my shoulder seemed to prefer a few inches narrower.

Power clean

135x5
135x5
135x5
185x2

Strong-looking guy made an appearance and said that my cleans looked good. Going to start working with some real weight next week.

I kept it short due to time constraints but I was very pleased with this workout. I felt like I could walk right through a fucking wall when I left.

My buddy is coming along well. Hasn’t missed a workout yet. He’s starting to take a closer look at nutrition now. It feels good to share the iron addiction.

Monday 6/16/14

BW 284

Three steps forward last week for two steps back during the weekend. At least I had a great weekend and I will put those surplus calories to work moving some iron around.

Squat

135x5
185x5
225x5
275x5
315x5
315x5
Wrapped my knees for next heavy set
365x2 - wraps came loose
365x5 - Maybe I like wraps after all

Bench press

135x5
185x5
225x5
245x5
245x5
245x3

Lat PD

210x9
210x8
210x7

Weighted situp

5x15
5x12

DB farmer’s carries

90 lb each hand - carried them as far as I could 3 times

20 min sauna
10 min hot tub

Thursday 6/19/14

Bodyweight 285

I got a massage yesterday, which was awesome. Back to work.

Deadlift

135x5
225x5
315x5
425x5
455x3

No straps this week. I also should try to slot another warm up set in at 365.

Strict military press

115x5
135x5
155x5
155x5
155x5

165 next week

Barbell curl

80x8
80x8
80x8

Standing calf raise

580x12
580x12

Had to keep it short. GF bday.

Great week for life. Bad week for fat loss. Great week for moving iron.

Saturday 6/21/14

Home gym quickie with a mild hangover

Squat

135x12
205x12
280x8
305x6

Incline Bench

115x12
155x10
175x8

Upright row

70x12
70x12
70x12

Barbell curl

70x10
70x10
70x10

Monday 6/23/14

Bodyweight 286

Squat

135x5
185x5
225x5
275x5
315x5
365x5
365x5
365x5

30 lb work set PR. Wrapped knees on 365 sets.

Bench press

135x5
185x5
225x5
245x5
245x5
245x4

Lat PD

210x10
210x8
210x8

Weighted situp

5lbs x 15
5lbs x 15

Dumbbell farmers carry

100 lbs each hand x Carried them as long as I could two times

15 min sauna
10 min hot tub
5 laps in the pool, leisurely breast stroke

I am upset with myself about not losing weight but holy shit, I am really fucking happy with my squat! Low bar just feels right to me. Sort of like how a vagina feels right, but the total opposite in terms of the sensation of the moment. It definitely suits the way I am built very well. I am very confident I can hit 385 for 5.

I need my inner meathead to start ruthlessly tormenting my inner fat boy. Begone, and take that leftover birthday cake with you back to Suckville!

My. What big squats you have. Nice work!

And hungover quickies are the worst. At least in the gym anyways.

[quote]Mighty Matron wrote:
My. What big squats you have. Nice work!

And hungover quickies are the worst. At least in the gym anyways.

[/quote]

Well, I am not particularly proficient with firearms, nor do I have any weaponry suited to bring down large game. My truck does not have a lift kit, off-road tires or a loud exhaust system. No moose heads hang on my walls. I am not a prescription pill dealer, nor do I have a lengthy criminal record. I also lack an array of regrettable tattoos that cannot be covered. I have a job.

Those deficiencies mean that I have to fall back on my beard and my lifts to impress the rugged women of Northern New England.

Good to know I’ve still got it!

[quote]twojarslave wrote:
I have a job.

[/quote]

I love when you talk dirty to me.

[quote]Mighty Matron wrote:

[quote]twojarslave wrote:
I have a job.

[/quote]

I love when you talk dirty to me.[/quote]

I was going to reply sooner but I had some very important work to do. At my job. Where I get paid money to do all kinds of things. Things like having meetings with other men with jobs. Women too. There’s no real boundaries like that here.

Wednesday 6/25/14

BW 286

Deadlift

135x5
225x5
315x5
435x5
495x1
545x1 30 lb PR

Fuck yeah. My ass already has an opinion about that lift.

Strict military press

115x5
145x5
165x5
165x5
165x5

175 next week. That did not take long to catch up with my seated OHP. I think it is easier to stay rigid while standing.

Standing calf raise

580x12
580x15

Barbell curl

Unlabeled barbell x 15
A much heavier unlabeled barbell x 8

Dumbbell bench press

35x15
60x12
85x10
100x6

Front Squat rep out

135x6

My legs were not on board with this idea.

20 min sauna
10 min hot tub
One very lazy lap in the pool

I am riding pretty high right now. Lots of thoughts floating around my head that need a little beer to get sorted out.

Been reading your log. How is fat/weight loss going ? You seem to be stuck around 284 or so