Farmer's Log 2

Training Over 35 Lifter
501

PG - Oh, I misunderstood you. I thought that you were saying that 20 rep squats were no good for even getting you healthy, not that they were a risk to your health. I agree with you, yes they probably could be if you were unconditioned to them.

God us over 35s are no good at arguing, we just keep seeing eachother’s point of view and agreeing with each other. It’s so boring. We could learn a thing or two off the BB and PL forums.

KP - I’m notoriously camera shy. I probably don’t have a single picture of myself between the ages of 18 and 30. As soon as the camera comes out I’m off!

James - Glad you agree about the high rep and joints. I can’t help feeling I’m wimping out a bit though, especially with all these hardcore powerlifters on here.

13/12/2011

20 rep back squat @ 264 lbs x 20

Chins @ bw + 5 lbs x 11

Military press @ 154 lbs x 7

DB One arm row @ 91 lbs x 9

Weighted push ups (feet elev.) @ bw + 44 lbs x 16

GHR @ bw x 8

Band pullaparts (2 bands) x 20

Face pulls @ 60 lbs x 16

EZ 21s @ 77 lbs x 1 set (21)

Ab rollouts off knees (10 sec pause at ext.) x 7

Did the GHRs with a less explosive push up to get back up, hence the drop in reps.

I think I’ll start adding a pound or two at a time to the miltary presses rather than keep trying to get an extra rep.

The squats are definitely getting tougher. I can’t believe I’ve done them with 40 lbs more than this before. I certainly couldn’t right now…well maybe with a gun to my head.

Didn’t sleep a lot last night. It’s been very stormy here of late and it was really blowing a gale through the night and it kept waking me up. It’s supposed to be evn worse on Thursday.

This was the sound of hailstones on my gym roof while I was lifting. Very distracting. Believe it or not I had my music on, but it was completely drowned out.

The shaking camera was a muscle spasm. Those EZ 21s will do that to you.

502

WOW… You will need a helmet to go outside in that, if you do get some video.

503

800×600 53 KB

Just making some hit and run posts til I can take time to really catch up. Very impressive high rep squats. Having to walk so much each day I tend to shy away from the serious DOMS inducing leg stuff.
Pix: Hail from the route last year (excuse the dirty hand)

504

It was absolutely honkin down here, ferries all cancelled etc.

505

Dude - I wasn’t going out in that. I sat in there and waited until it finished.

Harry - Wow they are big! Surely something that large must dent cars?

BN - Did you get the hail and thunderstorms last night as well? (Weds 14th) It was nasty.

15/12/2011

20 rep back squat @ 275 lbs x 20

Weighted chins @ bw + 10 lbs x 11

Military press @ 154 lbs x 7 1/2 (almost had the attempted 8th rep come crashing down on the top of my head, it was close)

DB one arm row @ 91 lbs x 10

Weighted, feet elevated push up @ bw + 44 lbs x 17

GHR @ bw x 7

Band pullaparts (3 bands) x 9

Face pulls @ 66 lbs x 12

EZ curls @ 77 lbs x 15 (straight forward curls, not 21s)

Ab rollouts (10 sec pause in ext. pos.) x 8

38 minutes

Was meant to squat 220, but when I got in there decided to go for the 275. Next time I really will do the workout I’m supposed to.

Got back in the house, sat down on the sofa and promptly fell asleep.

Naps after squats are the BEST naps.

506

[quote]FarmerBrett wrote:
Naps after squats are the BEST naps.[/quote]

This would be a fantastic slogan to embroid onto a pillow.

Nice work as always Brett.

507

Your devotion to 20 rep squats is to be lauded. As long as I don’t have to do them.

508

resistance band for the pushups?
could you get your wife to sit on you??

509

[quote]FarmerBrett wrote:

Was meant to squat 220, but when I got in there decided to go for the 275. Next time I really will do the workout I’m supposed to.
[/quote]

What’s wrong with doing more than expected? Was your form really off?

510

Crazy storm, love stormy weather for some twisted reason.
You’re becoming the squat machine, going to give Old Goat a run for the title.

511

[quote]FarmerBrett wrote:
20 rep back squat @ 275 lbs x 20
[/quote]

Sick.

512

ddot, dday, joe, CK - Thanks

alexus - Right, now how do I say this without getting myself in to trouble? Let’s just say it’s a fair old jump from 44 lbs to having my wife on my back. There, that was quite tactful.

Cav - It wasn’t a form issue, just that I’m supposed to be alternating a heavy squat workout with a lighter one to try and keep gaining longer, but so far I haven’t done one. I need to or I’ll start shortcutting my progress, you just can’t keep trying to increase every single session. I’m terrible for writing this stuff down and then ignoring my own advice.

Saturday night

17/12/2011

20 rep squat @ 286 lbs x 20

Weighted chins @ bw +12.5 lbs x 10 1/2

Military press @ 154 lbs x 8

DB one arm row @ 96.5 lbs x 9

Weighted push up (feet elev. 16") @ bw +44 lbs x 18

GHR @ bw x 7

Band pullaparts (3 bands) x 11

Face pulls @ 66 lbs x 13 1/2

EZ curls @ 77 lbs x 16

Ab rollouts (10 sec pause in ext.) x 7

Best 20 rep squat workout so far. Up to now it’s been difficult and I’ve been struggling slightly and when you struggle it’s your depth that you cut short. Every rep tonight was deep and strict. My PR is 308 x 20, after tonight I’m confident I can go beyond this. My plan for the holiday season is…

Monday 220 x 20

Wednesday 297 x 20 then a week off away for Christmas

First week back go for 308 x 20 (to tie PR) and then add 11 lbs a week into the New Year for as long as possible.

I’ve noticed I’m starting to dread my workouts. I think this is a good thing for me. The only time I’ve ever feared my workouts was during Smolov and the Russian Squat Routine. Probably the hardest I’ve ever worked and probably the most progress I’ve made too.

I guess if I’m now fearing 20 rep squats then they must be starting to work.

513

Damn, those sessions are intense. But yes, you really need to throw a “recovery” session in there from time to time.

You’re one strong mofo…

james

514

[quote]FarmerBrett wrote:

I’ve noticed I’m starting to dread my workouts. I think this is a good thing for me. The only time I’ve ever feared my workouts was during Smolov .

[/quote]

Me too. I would get feeling sick to my stomach before my training.

515

“I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it is gone pastI will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.”

  • Frank Herbert, Dune

Help? Works for me.

516

james - Thanks. It is an intense workout, but thankfully short. I hear you on the recovery sessions. I have to start thinking of them as being as important as the harder sessions. I’m getting there.

KP - Smolov is the stuff of nightmares to be sure. I think everyone should do it at least once, nothing feels quite so hard after that. Sorry to read about your foot, get better soon.

Harry - Thanks so much for that. It gave me goosebumps on my arms when I read it!! I’ve written it out and stuck it on my gym wall and will use it next time I have a crisis of faith.

19/12/2011

20 rep back squat @ 220 lbs x 20 (finally did the recovery session)

Weighted chins @ bw +12.5 lbs x 11

Military press @ 159.5 lbs x 7

DB one arm row @ 102 lbs x 8

Weighted push up (feet elev. 18") @ bw +44 lbs x 20

GHR @ bw x 7

Band pullaparts (3 bands) x 13

Face pulls @ 66 lbs x 15

EZ curls @ 77 lbs x 17

Ab rollouts (10 sec. pause in ext. pos.) x 8

Filmed the push ups (because I was going for 20) and the flaming camera cut out at rep 17. Batteries don’t seem to last very long in cold weather.

I’m starting to make consistent little gains on this routine. There seems to be something to this one set to failure stuff (in the short term at least) as a change from the multiple set, low rep, nowhere near failure stuff I had been doing and my joints are liking it too.

Millies are starting to progress quite well now. It’s been a long while since I handled anything over 160.

If I can get the 297 for 20 before Christmas (Wednesday or Thursday) I will be very happy with how things are sitting, nicely balanced for an all out assault in the new year.

517

awesome work in here, 280x20 man this makes me feel like such a horrible lifter!

518

Nice to see a “light” session thrown in here. Your recovery will thank you.

Great work as always!

james

519

Just gonna leave this here.

520

Strong lifting, Sir Farmer. I can’t remember that last time I did a 20 rep squat set. Must have blocked it from my memory.