Plus, some long lag screws through the base of the rack into the floor might be a good investment. I’m squatting roughly what you’re overhead pressing (waits for laughter to subside) and I’m about to bolt my rack to the floor so that it doesn’t tip over some day. Of course, I’m lifting on the 3rd floor in front of a double window, so having it tip all the way backwards could be Really Unfortunate.
Maybe some support under your low back arch when you bench may help relieve some pain. Like a rolled up towel.
ag918w35, having the rack move all over the place adds to the excitement.
[quote]soldog wrote:
[quote]LittleStrick wrote:
Thanks all.
Snap, it was rather humorous…after the fact 
Jack, just 35# to goal. But I agree with Steve. Those lil ol’ plates weigh a damned ton when they touch the bar.
MJ, I would love to do a comp. I have to get where I can actually squat and deadlift consistently first, though. That is part of the plan, but my back is still staying aggravated, from the bench arch, millies and heavy seated rows. Not to mention, that tight/painful spot on the outside of my upper left thigh is as bad as ever. Stretching and foam rolling doesn’t seem to do anything for it. Might be one more thing I have to get checked out.
FarmerBrett, I concur wholeheartedly. Getting cramps in my legs, while benching, isn’t that uncommon. Much more so than any other exercise.
The really bad ones are when I get a cramp under my chin. OW, that hurts! lol[/quote]
That spot on your thigh may be associated with the nerve irritation from your back which may imply that your back might have more going on than you suspect. Get it checked out would be my advice.[/quote]
Soldog, it could be a result of my Spondy. If it is, though, that is a completely new symptom. The Spondy stuff, as a rule, run down, from my lower back, slightly over, and down my glute. I have never felt anything on the outside of my leg. If that is it, it means it is getting worse.
[quote]ag918w35 wrote:
Plus, some long lag screws through the base of the rack into the floor might be a good investment. I’m squatting roughly what you’re overhead pressing (waits for laughter to subside) and I’m about to bolt my rack to the floor so that it doesn’t tip over some day. Of course, I’m lifting on the 3rd floor in front of a double window, so having it tip all the way backwards could be Really Unfortunate.[/quote]
I must have been gone. I didn’t hear the laughter Heck, when I started back, 18 months ago, I could military close to 200#, but I could barely squat 185#. It’ll come quicker than you think.
My reservation about bolting it down is that I hate to put hole in a slab in a room that I will eventually have to abandon. For now, the wall is working…until I crash through it into the entertainment center.
Steve, I think it is how hard I am pushing into my arch, not just the position of my back.
I think the biggest thing I can do is get a new mattress.
[quote]LittleStrick wrote:
Steve, I think it is how hard I am pushing into my arch, not just the position of my back.
I think the biggest thing I can do is get a new mattress.[/quote]
We got a temperpedic mattress 10 years ago and my back has felt great since.(most days) Best mattress I’ve ever had.
That is what we have been looking at. I need to replace the A/C and furnace 1st, though. I hoping to have the new mattress by the time I retire
[quote]LittleStrick wrote:
…until I crash through it into the entertainment center.[/quote]
Just make sure the camera is rolling!! 
Congrats on the bench pr. Thats some serious weight you’re moving.
I’ll make sure to get it on video for you, Steely.
Thanks, Scott. It’s serious for me…
[quote]LittleStrick wrote:
Thanks gents. MJ, back is wide…but not 4’ wide.
Blood sugar was a bit screwy going into this. I felt weak, but it didn’t really show until after the set at 250#. Not complaining, though.
Also, revisited DB Laterals today. Went light (20#). It went okay, but I could still feel it in the elbow. Damned tendonitis won’t go away.
Military Press
barx20
95x10
135x10
175x5
205x3
230x2
250x3 - PR +2 Reps - balance issue on 2 and 3
265x1 - bar got halfway up, energy went, bar dropped about an inch, then forced it up
275x1 - Push Press
185x10
Shrugs
225x20
315x15
405x10x2
Db Laterals
20sx15x2
Weight still isn’t feeling as light as it did when I hit 270#, but I am repping more weight.
[/quote]
Do I smell 300 sooner then Later
[quote]bulldog9899 wrote:
[quote]LittleStrick wrote:
Thanks gents. MJ, back is wide…but not 4’ wide.
Blood sugar was a bit screwy going into this. I felt weak, but it didn’t really show until after the set at 250#. Not complaining, though.
Also, revisited DB Laterals today. Went light (20#). It went okay, but I could still feel it in the elbow. Damned tendonitis won’t go away.
Military Press
barx20
95x10
135x10
175x5
205x3
230x2
250x3 - PR +2 Reps - balance issue on 2 and 3
265x1 - bar got halfway up, energy went, bar dropped about an inch, then forced it up
275x1 - Push Press
185x10
Shrugs
225x20
315x15
405x10x2
Db Laterals
20sx15x2
Weight still isn’t feeling as light as it did when I hit 270#, but I am repping more weight.
[/quote]
Do I smell 300 sooner then Later :)[/quote]
I don’t think so. Unless you are about to hit it. I am getting a few more reps at heavier weights, but my max hasn’t moved up. Unfortunately, that is the one that counts
Back -
Had to push through this fairly quickly. My daughter had a ballgame to cheer at.
Seated Rows - Close Neutral Grip
100x15
160x12
210x10
255x10
300x6x3
255x10
Seated Rows - Wide Neutral Grip
255x10 - PR +3 Reps
255x7x2
Lat Pulls - Wide Neutral Grip
210x10
210x8
210x7
No more gas.
WTF Skip!!?? MP 250x3. You’re so blowing me out of the water.
[quote]ecogenx wrote:
WTF Skip!!?? MP 250x3. You’re so blowing me out of the water.[/quote]
I know, right? My last bench day was 5x5 with 250.
[quote]ecogenx wrote:
WTF Skip!!?? MP 250x3. You’re so blowing me out of the water.[/quote]
I am willing to bet money that you had more than 1 rep in you when you did 250#. You just weren’t motivated, or didn’t feel like it, at the time.
And if I can do a tad more, it is only fair. I am not on the same planet as you in any other lift. Not that I am complaining. I’m happy to know someone that damned strong.
Jack, 250# for one set of 3 is a looooooooong way from 5 sets or 5. just sayin…
If I could military 250# for 5x5, I might develop a strut.
LS you’re upperbody strength is amazing!
Looking at your log I’ve noticed you don’t train alot of lower body (I’m assuming because of injury etc).
Do you think that your great progress on BP, rows and MP is due to the extra focus and time you can devote to upperbody training or have you always been strong on those?
big work for such a little guy…
[quote]FarmerBrett wrote:
LS you’re upperbody strength is amazing!
Looking at your log I’ve noticed you don’t train alot of lower body (I’m assuming because of injury etc).
Do you think that your great progress on BP, rows and MP is due to the extra focus and time you can devote to upperbody training or have you always been strong on those?[/quote]
Hmmmmm… I think that I do have pretty good row and OH press strength. It doesn’t seem to hold as true for bench and lat pulls, though. That is not to say that I think the latter two are bad. I just think that I should be able to bench and lat pull more given what I can OH press and row. And I have always had a decent OH Press and seated row. I don’t think I could do more than 1 pullup, though. Of course, the weight I carry has something to do with that.
You are correct on the lack of lower body work. I have Spondy (L5 is slipping forward on S1). I don’t know that it is getting worse (the actual slippage), but my lower back feels fatigued and achy from benching (the arch), seated rows and standing military. I had been doing squats and deads, but stopped when I reached a point of constant discomfort…meaning it never eased, week to week. I need to get back to them, at lighter weights. I haven’t because I can’t figure out how to work them in without a drastic change to my back workouts. Since I am so close to my OHP and bench goals, I am trying to get there before I change up too much.
I do think that my recent jumps in OHP and bench are tied to my having a day solely focused on back…or, at least, emphasizing back. I feel more stable when benching and better control when OH Pressing. Just strengthening the foundation.
Of course, it could just as easily be that I am getting stronger from doing the lifts. I do love my back days, though.
[quote]mjnewland wrote:
big work for such a little guy…[/quote]
Thanks, mj. I inquired about changing my username to just “Strick”. They didn’t seem interested. I’ll survive.
The good news is, my medium sized frame seems to be holding up okay.