Lifting in a Rams Head

[quote]NHLFTR wrote:
What did you finally do about your neck? I apologize to ask because I’m sure you’ve already discussed it on this thread somewhere.[/quote]

Thats ok bro, I appreciate you asking. I decided, per the surgeon’s opinion not to do the surgery. I was very surprised as usually the docs want to cut you up. He basically said since I am not experiencing any pain, and my strength is coming back slowly, he doesent see a need for it at this time and will simply monitor it. After the one epidural I havent had any significant pain, I still have weakness and numbness down my right arm, but from going to no benching to finally getting up to 290 it shows progress albeit slow progress

Yesterday

Squats - 245x5 285x5 325x5 365x1
2 sec pause squat - 315x3
4 sec pause squat - 245x4x5
SGHP - 135x5 185x5 205x5 225x5
Hang Clean - 135,155,175x5
Chins - 8, +25x4x5, +45x1
Paloff Press / HLR - 3X10 3X10
Trap Bar Carries - 3pps x 3rnds x 40yds

Ah didn’t know you have doggies! Yay for strength coming back.

[quote]MattyXL wrote:

[quote]NHLFTR wrote:
What did you finally do about your neck? I apologize to ask because I’m sure you’ve already discussed it on this thread somewhere.[/quote]

Thats ok bro, I appreciate you asking. I decided, per the surgeon’s opinion not to do the surgery. I was very surprised as usually the docs want to cut you up. He basically said since I am not experiencing any pain, and my strength is coming back slowly, he doesent see a need for it at this time and will simply monitor it. After the one epidural I havent had any significant pain, I still have weakness and numbness down my right arm, but from going to no benching to finally getting up to 290 it shows progress albeit slow progress
[/quote]
That’s cool your surgeon wasn’t in a rush to get you into the operating room. Stinks that the right arm is still an issue. I’m sure you’ll be back to benching 315 in no time. I had to stop the high pulls because they kill my wrists and elbows. I’m old.

I think you’re going about it right. A guy at my work had a similar problem, and he’s slowly back to normal. Granted he’s a lot smaller than you, and he does not lift. He feels about as good as can be expect. He had the surgery and was laid up for a long time. You just have to baby something like that.

[quote]minimaltechno wrote:
Ah didn’t know you have doggies! Yay for strength coming back.[/quote]

With the exception of my wife and daughter, there is no one I would rather spend my time with…for the most part I like dogs better than people.

Slow progress is progress. It hurt my mind to know where I am and where I’ve been in the past but with hope we will get there again and beyond.

[quote]Crippler56 wrote:
I think you’re going about it right. A guy at my work had a similar problem, and he’s slowly back to normal. Granted he’s a lot smaller than you, and he does not lift. He feels about as good as can be expect. He had the surgery and was laid up for a long time. You just have to baby something like that. [/quote]

Your right, at first I was resigned to getting the surgery and actually looking forward to being 100% quicker, so in a odd way not getting the surgery was dissapointing. Looking at it reasonably however any time you can avoid surgery its a good thing, and while lifting is a big part of me, taking the slow and steady road back to full strength may make me stronger in other ways

Yesterday…

1A - flat bench 185,205,245x5 Last rep was a bit of a struggle
1B - face pull - 5x12
2A - CGBP - 205x5x5
2B - WG Poull ups - 5x5
3A - DB floor press - 75x4x10
3B - incline band flies - 4x15

Meadows Row - 1pltx15 2pltx15 3pltx10 +25 x5
Poundstone Curls - 1x50

Rev hypers 3x10 band paloff press - 3x10

[quote]gorillavanilla wrote:
Slow progress is progress. It hurt my mind to know where I am and where I’ve been in the past but with hope we will get there again and beyond.[/quote]

Amen! I have got to realize it comes with the territory. I will admit that my ego sometimes gets the best of me, when I see dudes grunting and groaning over weight that at one time was easy for me…its a bad trait I know but cant help it sometimes

Felt dizzy and lightheaded all day …whatevs

DL - 315,365,405x5
OH Press - 135,155,175x5 135x10
Chest supp DB Row - 65x20 80x15 100x10
Rear DB Fly (rp) - 25x30,21,15
DB laterals - 30x25,20
Tri ladders 5x15/Band PD - 5x15
Trap Bar Walks - 135,225,315x40yds 405x20ydsx2

strenf returning is a good sign
good pressing
nice work- I just did some trap bar walks- they are kinda cool.

Thanks Bro…I wish I had my old pressing power back…but Im gonna be like the tortoise, and eventually get to the finish line.

May have some issues getting to the gym consistently this week, so did double duty today…

Squat - 265x5 325x3 365x1 385x1
Squat Against Light Bands - 225x5x5
SS w Paloff Press Banded - 3x10

Hang Clean - 135,155, 175, 185x3
Seated DB Cleans - 25,30,35,40,45,55x12

Usually do SG High Pulls, but my neck was sore and I believe its from sleeping all crooked, so held off.

Chins - 10, +25x5, +35x5, +45x4

DL Aganist Minis - 135,225,315,365x3
DL - 405x3 425x1 455x1

The combo my injury plus pulling with these super stiff bars has sucked all the confidence out of me with this lift. Should be able to train tomorrow…

I hear you on pulling with the super stiff bars Matty. I have four bars and they are all stiff.

The good news is after going through a couple of pre meet training cycles using them which have been somewhat disappointing, once due to injury and once due to me just sucking, my dead numbers at the meets that followed were both decent.

I have the same problem as you and Dave. My gym has very stiff bars. I have found that once I get to a meet, my deads are easier with the better equipment.

Do you guys do anything different with regards to set up, for me I cant even get the slack out of the bar

Thank God for the wonderful healing properties of Ibuprofen. Woke up at 5am and felt like I was hit by a Mack truck…800mg of ibuprofen… And 2 hours later… Felt like a million bucks.

OH press - not strict but not a push press either, first rep cleaned.
135,155,185x5 195x2 205x1. The only way I can get some modicum of weight over head is with some leg drive.
Face Pull seated - 5x10-15
HLR - 4x10
Pendlay Row - 135,185,225,245,275,295x5 225x12
Tri Ladder - 5x12
Weighted pushup close grip - 45x4x10

Nice… Gonno go get my tan on.

[quote]MattyXL wrote:
Do you guys do anything different with regards to set up, for me I cant even get the slack out of the bar[/quote]

I don’t do anything different set up wise. With the stiff bars it seems like there really isn’t any slack so I just try to get tight and pull upward a bit as if I were taking the slack out and then start the pull.

[quote]DBasler wrote:

[quote]MattyXL wrote:
Do you guys do anything different with regards to set up, for me I cant even get the slack out of the bar[/quote]

I don’t do anything different set up wise. With the stiff bars it seems like there really isn’t any slack so I just try to get tight and pull upward a bit as if I were taking the slack out and then start the pull. [/quote]

I guess I should stop complaining lol

Flat Bench - 215x5 245x3 275x2
1a Flat Bench paused - 225x4x3 185x5 135x10
1b DB row - 80x10 100x5x10
2a - Spoon Press - 35,40,50x20
2b - Rear db fly - 35x15 40x15 50x12

Trap bar walks - 225x40ydsx4rnds