I know this isn’t a topic starter, but I couldn’t find out where to introduce myself.Been visiting this site for many years and finally decided to join. A quick bit of info about myself. Iâ??m 41 and have been training consistently since I was 20. With only 1 break of 6 months when I moved house. Iâ??ve always had a home gym with power rack, hi-low pulley (mainly used now for a version of a glute/ham raise) and dip bars.
My training philosophy had always been closer to HIT than the volume approach and I now realise I have wasted many years â??UNDER-TRAININGâ?? in an effort to avoid overtraining!!! (Fucking Mike Mentzer!) In the past 3 years I have made huge progress by ditching training to failure, lowering my reps to 3 or below and increasing my sets and training frequency.
This year, at 41 I have broken all my pbâ??s training this way. I am 5 foot 9 and weigh 218lbs. I donâ??t know my BF% but Iâ??m not too far away from a six pack. (not that itâ??s a goal of mine. I wouldnâ??t mind one, but iâ??d rather have a 500lb raw squat!!)
My current lifts are,
Deadlift 440lbs
Back Squat 440lbs
Front Squat 308lbs
These lifts are completely raw. No belt, no wraps, no nothing and to below parallel. I am great supporter of the RAW movement,( but I donâ??t think knee wraps or a belt should be allowed either), and donâ??t get me started on what has happened to powerlifting. The bench press world record higher than the deadlift. WTF !!! Ridiculous.
I donâ??t bench press anymore and havenâ??t for 10 years because it makes my shoulders ache. I military press, push press and do weighted dips instead. My best bench, set in 2000 was just over 300lbs, but I have always hated the obsession people have with the BP.
My training at the moment is Monday , Deadlift â?? ramp up over 6 to 8 sets to a heavy triple then weighted dips supersetted with Ez curls .
Wednesday-Front squat supersetted with GHR X 5 sets of 3 (ramping up the weights again) + arms
Friday â??Back squat supersetted with GHRx5 sets of 3 (ramping again) +arms
Tuesday and Thursday Tabata intervals on the bike.
I know that looks like alot of arms, but I have been struck down with aching knees and elbows of late and Iâ??m just getting back into upperbody training after 3 months of anti-inflammatories. Elbows too sore to chin still, but the curls donâ??t seem to be bothering them too much. The knee pain was down to discovering how well a few sets of DB jump squats improve the subsequent heavy squats. 5 sets of jump squats 3 times a week x several months = bad knees.
Didnâ??t have any time off, just toned it down a bit for a while. Iâ??ve just begun to realise that as you age you have to train a bit smarter as far as your joints go. Thatâ??s enough rambling. Looking forward to chatting with you all.
HAPPY TRAINING!!
