Maple Syrup Strength (littlesleeper)

Training Training Logs
2331

Good point!

Thanks man! I appreciate it.

So for my birthday (on Thursday) we went into town and met up at a friend’s apartment where we were just going to have a few drinks and play some cards. Well a few drinks turned into a few too many, and we ended up at a country bar which we then were kicked out of. My one buddy was a little further gone than the rest of us and he broke 3 glasses full of beer at the bar. I’m actually surprised we lasted as long as we did.

Anyways, good night, horrible next day. I don’t recover like I used to! The Friday was the last day we had to get the house ready for pictures to be taken for our realtor. We were cleaning/tidying/packing until 11:30pm last night. Back at the house this morning at 8am for a few last things. Photographer just left a couple hours ago. Nice to have that over with!

Now we will be living at my Dad’s place for a week or so while our house is shown to potential buyers. It will be a little more difficult trying to slip in to get workouts done between showings, but I’ll make it work. Worse case scenario I’ll grab a week pass to a gym in town and just get them done there.

Drinking dehydration win: Morning Weight on Friday: 210.0lbs. (weight loss PR)
Friday Bench Workout
45 x 10
135 x 5
185 x 5
225 x 3
245 x 8
245 x 8
245 x 8
245 x 8
245 x 6

I was pretty happy with this. Just 1 rep less than I did with 225lbs on Monday.

A bunch of banded shoulder work throughout. I was hungover so I kept it to the main work.

Deadlift Workout (Today) 3/24
135 x 5 C
225 x 5 C
315 x 3 C
315 x 3 S
455 x 2 C
455 x 1 S
455 x 1 S
455 x 1 S
455 x 1 S
455 x 1 S

So, there was a bit of an oopsie with my loading here as you may notice. I meant to go from 315 - 365lbs for my warmups as I typically do but I guess I was distracted and loaded another 45 before the 25 and ended up with 455 on the bar. I planned on hitting a couple doubles with 365 but it felt heavy as hell. Ah, turns out it was higher than my top set was even supposed to be today. Oops. Couldn’t be bothered to remove weight down to 435 so I just did my sets there. Body was feeling a little sore today just from being on my feet for like 16 straight hours yesterday zipping around the house getting it ready.

Yates Rows
135 x 15, 15, 15, 15

Now we are off to another joint birthday party for me and my old university roommate. I’m debating on laying off the booze for this one. We shall see.

Have a good weekend y’all!

10 Likes
2332

Hahahaa the good ole days!!! ANd Happy Belated Bday!!!

3 Likes
2333

Good luck with that! I always fail. It starts with one and it makes you feel better so you have another and then it’s on!

6 Likes
2334

Hair of the dog — it’s real!

3 Likes
2335

I am so with you on the drinking… I used to be able to mix drinks/shots and slam them back like water :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye: I would wake up the next morning for training like nothing happened. Now if I try to do it I feel like shit and am extremely sick the next day!! I’m too old for that and just stick to my beers and wine at home where I’m safe and out of trouble. I am happy you had a good time and also that you all are hopefully getting your house sold soon!!!

1 Like
2336

As did I!

Absolutely, this is fact!

Thanks! Us to. It is hitting the market today. We are excited and a little nervous since the house we are buying is still just a handshake deal. Trying to stay optimistic at this point.

Diet was pretty good all weekend (other than beer) until last night I went to my Mom’s for my final little birthday get together and she make homemade pizza (dough in the breadmaker…so good). So I went to work on that and ate until it hurt. Damn.

Diet (re)starts today. High fat/low carb approach.

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2337

I’m proud of you!

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2338

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6 Likes
2339

I see you like Brussels sprouts. I also like them.

Actually, they’re probably my favourite vegetable.

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2340

My wife and I both really like them! The first time I tried them I expected them to be awful, given their reputation. I just cook them on the stove top with a little butter and a little soy sauce. How do you typically prepare them? Always looking for some variations! Butter/soy sauce combo is a go-to for me for a few veggies, including asparagus.

1 Like
2341

I’m in for them brussels sprouts too.
We usually just boil them in water. To long and they taste like soil.
Is it on a pan like fried with butter and soy. When you say cook on the stove top, I’m a little lost in translation there.

1 Like
2342

Not the bestfor you but my hubby cooks themwith butter and bacon and onion.

4 Likes
2343

@mortdk - Exactly! Just frying them in a pan, or I’ve even just stir them in a pot that I already had on the stove used for something else (because I hate dirtying extra dishes if I don’t have to!)

@littlelee - IIFYM! Nothing wrong with butter and bacon, just gotta keep the rest of the day in check. I’m on a high fat, low carb plan so that would be an option for me!

So our house is on the market and my typical workout time (~5pm) is when the showings seem to start (makes sense as that is just after the typical quittin’ time). So I just shifted my work hours a little earlier so I can get home and squeak in my main work and get out of the house before 5pm. This does force me to keep my rest periods tight and keep the dicking around to a minimum, which I could use.

Warmed up with box jumps, banded walks and some lunges.

Please don’t tell that guy from the “Warmups are Bad” thread that I warmed up before hitting 80% of my max eccentric leg press…
If you’re unaware of the reference, don’t bother reading the thread unless you’re REALLY bored. Not worth the time invested, but there are some gems within it.

Squats Yesterday
45 x 5
135 x 5
225 x 5
275 x 3
315 x 3
345 x 5
345 x 5
345 x 5
345 x 5
345 x 5

These felt strong and fast. I’m looking forward to the weight to start climbing on squats. I know I have the strength for a PR hidden in there, I just need the confidence and program to bring it out! June 9th squat PR, you heard it here first.

9 Likes
2344

What is a pr for you in squats? What is the desired goal in mind?

2345

I hit 525lbs at the beginning of 2017 (ugh…well over a year ago) then I had some knee issues for a few months which took squatting out of my program. So I’ve been battling to get back to that level.
I definitely feel stronger than before, but as soon as 500+lbs gets on my back I’m already beat mentally. My squat stance/cues/etc have changed a few times, but I think I’ve found what feels best for me. High bar, narrow-ish stance (hip width or so), belt around lower abs (used to be upper abs), and only filling up my air to about 90-95%. I used to focus on filling up to 110% air in my belly for the bracing, but that was uncomfortable and too much focus was going into bracing rather than the many other tasks that I need to carry out to complete a lift. I agree that bracing is a HUGE part, but unfortunately, you’re not going to complete a squat by bracing!

I still remember one of my toughest sets to date in the weight room was a widowmaker set (20reps) at 315lbs. Last week I considered just banging out 20 on my first set of 315 because it felt so damn light.

Honestly, I’ll be happy to hit over 500lbs on the squat.

For the June 9th meet I have decided I could leave the meet satisfied with a 500lb squat, 350lb bench and a 600lb deadlift for a 1450lb total. However; slightly more optimistic goals include a 550lb squat, a 375lb bench and a 665lb deadlift for a 1590lb total. Ah, screw it, lets toss another 10lber on the bench to hit that sexy 1600lbs. Bench also hasn’t moved since the beginning of 2017, but I was just hoping to take that 375lb gym max (touch and go) to a 375lb paused comp rep on the platform.

Well, that got long-winded quickly. I’m currently killing 15mins before a streak of meetings.

TLDR: All time PR (Jan 2017) = 525lbs, Conservative Goal = 500lbs, Optimistic Goal = 550lbs

4 Likes
2346

I’ll be holding you up to that 550 lbs, you got it in you mate. On the @BOTSLAYER program anything can happen.

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2347

I just microwave them until they’re almost falling apart.

1 Like
2348

My misses did a pasta dish last week with finely chopped Brussels, bacon and chopped almonds then stir in the pasta and add butter and season. Pretty bloody good.

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2349

Another quick workout yesterday after work and before a house showing.

Bench
45 x 5
135 x 5
185 x 5
225 x 3
245 x 3
265 x 5
265 x 5
265 x 5
265 x 5
265 x 5

The sets at 265lbs were not grinders, but I wouldn’t exactly call them easy. I hate bench press.

I superset the bench sets with some:
Run-The-Rack DB Rows
50 x 20
60 x 20
70 x 20
80 x 15
90 x 10
100 x 10

After dinner my wife wanted to go get her workout in (she wasn’t able to make it to the house before the showings), so I was helping her with squat form and then just did a few sets of 50lb DB bench and some sets of 8 chins. Also some band work. No real work, but burned off some of my dinner at least.

She is currently getting knee pain when squatting (and does not suffer from knee pain otherwise). I’m working on nailing her form down still and figuring out what is most comfortable for her.
I was able to help her relieve some of the pain by exaggerating a small breaking at the knees before descending (this is how I find squatting most comfortable as well).
Next I’m going to work on her mobility by just starting with the 3rd world squat and making her sit in it for a few minutes a day. That seemed to help my squat balance a lot and minimized any knee drift being used for stability.
Any other tips/suggestions are welcome! Pain is in her left knee and just above/outside of her knee cap.

4 Likes
2350

Does she wear sleeves?