Lifting with the Stricks

Training Over 35 Lifter
1081

[quote]cavalier wrote:
Those are killer benches, Strick. Sorry to hear about Jennifer dropping out, she was making great gains.

Just out of curiousity, what’s it like living in a state that does things like this:

Cav, that is interesting. I think that every state has its peculiarities, though. I have been told that there is an OK law that prohibits fishing for whales, in the state. Besides being land-locked, OK has no natural lakes. They’re all man made.
The is, or used to be, a law in Atlanta, GA (I am from GA), making it illegal to tie your pet giraffe to a light pole.

That being said, it is a worthy trade for me…putting up with a bit of…uh…mental deficiency…for a much less intrusive government.

1082

[quote]Led wrote:

[quote]LittleStrick wrote:
Matty, that’s just my sadistic streak. It comes and goes…lol.

Yesterday’s trying to write a $25 check with only $20 in the bank workout…

Bench - still trying to up the weight and let my body get used to the heavier loads
barx20
135x10
185x5
225x5
275x3
315x2
335x1
350x1 - this felt heavy and slow. Not sure I had much more in me. Since it is previous 1RM - 20#, though, I am happy with it.

Not supersetted, but in between each bench set…

Facepulls
103x15
115x12
127x10x6

Then…

Tricep Pushdowns - had to hurry through these
103x12
115x10
Drop set
127x5, 103x5, 79x5, 55x6

That was it. The bench still feels heavy as hell, but I think I am starting to acclimate to the heavier loads again. Also, the tricep work was very short, but that last set set them on fire. They felt like they were cramped for a couple of minutes.

Still avoiding laterals, due to my elbow. That is really frustrating. I love laterals. Gotta round the shoulders![/quote]

Ahhh Strick? The 350 “feels” heavy because it IS HEAVY. Nice work on the benches big man, also part of the reason the tris were on fire at the end as well.[/quote]

Led, you are spot on. Even when I was benching regularly, it was heavy. My joints are just raising a ruckus over it.
Also, I have narrowed my grip about 1 - 1 1/4" on each side. Not a lot, but enough to tell. Just trying to find a grip with a little less flaring and more tuck.

1083

I had to do the same with my grip about 4 yrs ago, as my shoulder hurt so bad 135 x10 was about the best i could do at the time.

1084

[quote]Led wrote:
I had to do the same with my grip about 4 yrs ago, as my shoulder hurt so bad 135 x10 was about the best i could do at the time. [/quote]

That is exactly why I narrowed my grip. Triyng to keep my left shoulder from acting up.

1085

We had my youngest’s official birthday party today. He turned 6 a bit over a week ago, but we waited until today for the, invite friends, party. Chuck E Cheese is a nut house. I barely escaped with my sanity.

Anyway, that to say that I was short on workout time and did the following in 11 minutes.

Lat Pulls - wide neutral
115x15
175x10x4

supersetted with

Seated Rows - close neutral
115x15
175x10x4

followed by

Cable Rope Pulldowns
103x10x3

supersetted with

Seated Rows - wide neutral
175x10x3

In and out. Got a good burn from it. Back to the grind tomorrow.

1086

That’s a ton of work in 11 minutes!

Yeah, CC is a nutso place to go but the kids love it so you do what you gotta do to get through.

james

1087

[quote]LittleStrick wrote:
We had my youngest’s official birthday party today. He turned 6 a bit over a week ago, but we waited until today for the, invite friends, party. Chuck E Cheese is a nut house. I barely escaped with my sanity.

Anyway, that to say that I was short on workout time and did the following in 11 minutes.

Lat Pulls - wide neutral
115x15
175x10x4

supersetted with

Seated Rows - close neutral
115x15
175x10x4

followed by

Cable Rope Pulldowns
103x10x3

supersetted with

Seated Rows - wide neutral
175x10x3

In and out. Got a good burn from it. Back to the grind tomorrow.[/quote]

Chuck E Cheese Hell… Right there with ya brother… Gald you escaped and had some good training!

1088

James, Wilson, it was an experience. I was exhausted afterwards…constantly having to watch where you are going, so you don’t squash a little.

The rapid workout helped burn off some stress. I was still too traumatized to sleep well, though.

1089

ONe of the shortest workouts I think I’ve seen. The important thing is you DID get some work in…after the Chuckie experience.

1090

Bench and Triceps…and a little rear delt

Still trying to eek up my bench to whre it was before. I am getting closer. Still monkeying with my grip and trying to find my groove.

Alternated sets of Face Pulls and Bench

Face Pulls
103x15
115x12
127x10x4

Bench
135x20
185x5
225x5
275x3
315x2
335x1
355x1 - 5# more than last week, 15# off my old 1RM…blood sugar was crashing on the last set, it barely went.

Then

1-Arm Tricep Pulldowns
43x12
55x7

1-Arm Tricep Pushdowns
67x8
79x6

Tricep V-Bar Pushdowns - big drop set
127x5
103x5
79x5
55x5
31x12

Triceps on fire after this one. Felt like they were cramping I wish 355# had felt a tad more manageable, on the bench. But I have only been back at it a few weeks. My blood sugar crashing didn’t help (just started a low carb diet). So, all-in-all, I am pleased.

1091

very jealous of your bench…no more OH pressing?

1092

[quote]MattyXL wrote:
very jealous of your bench…no more OH pressing?[/quote]

Matty, getting to a 405#, it seems, is a lifetime goal. Once I am back at it, I need to try something new and innovative. Otherwise, I am starting to wonder if I will ever get there.

Trust me, you’ll pass me right on by in no time.

I, as you know, LOVE OH press. Every time I do it, though, my left shoulder starts tweaking. I will get back to it, no doubt. Right now, though, I am enjoying being pain free…at least in my shoulder…lol.

1093

Hmmm…thought I posted my workout. Guess not…

Alternated sets of Lat Pulls and Seated Rows

Lat Pulls - wide neutral
115x15
175x12
200x10
225x8x3

Seated Rows - close neutral
115x15
175x12
200x10
225x8x3

then

Seated Rows - wide neutral
225x8x3

last

Front Pullowns with rope
115x10
127x10x2

If anyone has ever noticed that I jump from 127# to 151#, and never in between, it is because one of the plates, on my machine, was installed backwards, when re-assembled. There is no slot for the pin. It is on the wrong side.

Also…thank God it’s Friday!

1094

Haha…that’s one way of making bigger jumps in weight. Low carb is tough on strength training and it’s easy to undereat like that. You can try eating some nuts during your session to help out with that energy drop.

james

1095

[quote]atypical1 wrote:
Haha…that’s one way of making bigger jumps in weight. Low carb is tough on strength training and it’s easy to undereat like that. You can try eating some nuts during your session to help out with that energy drop.

james[/quote]

I normally sip on apple juice, while working out. Being low carb, though, and not having eaten anything for several hours, just kicked me.

1096

Still plodding along. There just don’t seem to be enough hours in the day to get everything done that I need to…including keeping up on my log. A few “highlights”, though…

MrsS is back in the weight room with me. She has lost a lot of strength. Some from not lifting and a lot from the diet she had herself on. She is working it, though. It is going to take some time, and a serious willingness to eat to grow, but she will get there.

Sunday I worked up to 350x1x2, on bench. Still not where I would like to be, but I can deal with it while I get back to where I was.

Yesterday, I worked up to 225x3, on Military Press. Again, it isn’t where I would like to be. Given that it is the most I have attempted since early Fall/late Summer, I will take it with a smile. Of course, the smile is more about the fact that I did it without any pain in my left shoulder. I don’t know how long that will last, since it had been there for years. Here is hoping for the best, though

Of course, I seem to have traded the shoulder pain for elbow pain. Both hurt like hell. The right one was a result of a set of laterals, a few weeks back. Something just “caught” and it has given me hell ever since. The left? Who knows. They both nag like heck. It is something that can be worked through, though. Just have to keep the laterals really light.

Onward and, hopefully, upward.

1097

Do you use elbow sleeves? If not maybe you should try them.

1098

[quote]JoeGood wrote:
Do you use elbow sleeves? If not maybe you should try them. [/quote]

Sorry, Joe. VERY late reply! Yes, I use elbow sleeves on Bench and Military, once I get to a certain weight…usually 205# on MP and 275+ on bench.

1099

[quote]LittleStrick wrote:

[quote]JoeGood wrote:
Do you use elbow sleeves? If not maybe you should try them. [/quote]

Sorry, Joe. VERY late reply! Yes, I use elbow sleeves on Bench and Military, once I get to a certain weight…usually 205# on MP and 275+ on bench.[/quote]
Its been 2 months and all we get is ‘yes I use elbow sleeves’??? Where you been and how are you. How’s the family?

1100

Few things…

There is no more lifting with the “Stricks”. Jennifer has bailed on me for the time being. She broke her momentum and has yet to regain it. She will come around. I am sure that I am to blame :slight_smile:

Still no deads or squats. Hell, no shrugs either, for that matter. Back just will not tolerate it.

I have moved into a wonky workout cycle. The workout week is either 3 or 4 days, depending on how I feel…

Sun. - Heavy Military (4 sets above 200#) alternated with Lat Pulls. Finish with DB laterals.
Mon. - Arms…a total of 5-7, non-warmup, sets, over 2 exercises, for triceps and biceps.
Wed. - If on a 4 day week…Bench 3x8 then up to a heavy triple alternated with Kroc rows & seated rows.
Thu. - if on a 4 day week…Military 5x10 @ 135-155# alternated with rev. flyes.

Thu. - If on a 3 day week…Bench to a heavy triple and Military 3x10 @ 135-155# alternated with Kroc rows and rev. flyes.

How is that panning out? Well, it is keeping me working out. My shoulders seem to be thickening, as is the rest of me. (I quit nicotine (dipping) about a month ago. After 24 years I called it quits. So…unsated oral fixation = eating more…PLUS removal of stimulant (nicotine)… = overall weight gain, but only about 10 pounds.) But, that being said, I did manage 245x6 on Military, last week. That was a 2 rep PR. So, it isn’t all bad. Well, except that my left shoulder is hurting again. Such is life.

I was really surprised to only be on page 3. I figured to be on 23.