This probably belongs in the confession thread @hugh_gilly but I like about three quarters of the music at Elite. In terms of training music, I couldn’t care less what’s planned. I do like for Destiny’s Child for squats though.
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@Koestrizer I have no experience with equipment at all. I may compete equipped down the track, but there are some things I want to achieve raw first. I’d definitely like a go at single ply. At the moment I’m going to see how the briefs augment my training
Just based on today, briefs are very pleasant to use. These were very, very loose though, and even so I saw various bruises when I removed them. No pain, but I anticipate that the Centurions may be less forgiving.
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Had somebody 'mirin in the background on your deadlift singles! haha nice work!
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More weights moved, without a downside? That sounds pretty good.
Are your legs (quad muscles)extra sore today?
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Woke at 183.9 lbs. I like it when my body does what I expect it to.
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Although, scale weight aside I look softer than I’d like. Granted, I had a look closely after breakfast as opposed to right on waking. I had a glance after weighing and nothing stood out, so I’m just being silly.
@FlatsFarmer not noticeably. I was definitely a little more drained after training yesterday, though. I think that’s simply because of extra sets more than anything.
Hungry AF again. That’s a week or so now, or at least I think it is. Scale weight has stayed within the new usual range though. Maybe something to do with looking a little softer/puffier? Not sure how that would work. I don’t see how it’d be a real change in composition, that’s too short a period. I’m due another BIA in about two and a half weeks. Hopefully there will have been no muscle loss and no fat gain. Tomorrow morning I’ll have a proper look at myself on waking. All I can think of with the softer look combined with increased hunger is that my glycogen levels are down so muscles look flat and soft. That would sort of tally with how I actually looked pretty good the morning after my BCAA fiasco because I’d carbed up a ton early that day, then dehydrated (unintentionally) later and overnight.
Who knows? Right now apart from physically resetting my body, I’m mentally resetting as well. It’s along the lines of loving being lean, and being very comfortable with what I’ve achieved but also not being quite reassured enough that it’ll stay that way even though I haven’t really changed my nutrition. It’ll probably take as long as it takes my body to become accustomed to being leaner for my mind to trust I won’t suddenly get fat again unless I go dumb shit.
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Went back to Beyond and re-read the Training Maximally section to make sure I wasn’t missing anything. I’m not. Massive relief. Having done it even for just a week, only tentatively feeling my way through made me understand that section much, much better.
It surprises me how marked my feeling of relief is having made this switch. I cannot fathom why I feel that way, but I’m enjoying it.
Maybe it stems from this: I think I made my first grown-up lifter decision. I cut weight, I feel better and I look better. I learned a lot over the process. At the start I realised I would lose strength doing that, at least initially. It isn’t until the last couple of weeks that I actually wrapped my head around the reality of that, and am totally fine with it because I know I’ll exceed my previous limits in the future, and the key point is that I know a) it’ll take time and b) how that process feels, because that’s exactly what I did to lean out. So yeah, the decision is more of a lightbulb moment than a decision.
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Woke at 183.7 lbs and had a good visual check. All appears much as it should be.
I would expect this to become normal for a long time. Having lost a significant amount of weight myself, and having stayed lean for over a year, I’m still often shocked at catching a glance at myself in the mirror, not recognizing myself, and realizing that I’m not a fat bastard anymore, lol.
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Woke at 183.5 lbs. Looking good. Fuller muscle bellies too I think. I had some allsorts and marshmallows with dinner as my carbs, and hey presto, fuller muscles.
Training Maximally, week 2
Today’s training
Lazy lifter plus shoulders
Bench press
TM is 242 lbs
Worked up in 10s from the bar in 3-5 to 60%, 20 pull aparts between sets
3x165 lbs, under 6 RPE
2x192 lbs, under 6 RPE
1x214 lbs, 6 RPE
3x242 lbs, 9 RPE
2x253 lbs, 9 RPE
1x264 lbs, 9-10 RPE
Actually thinking about flaring is a huge help when I come to the sticking point. There are now a whole bunch of cues I have to remember for benching, but that effort gets one hell of a dividend.
CGBP to one board 3x8x154 lbs, under 6 to 6 RPE
Seated press
2x5x110 lbs, 2x5x121 lbs, 6x132 lbs
Seated makes such a difference in feel. Much, MUCH closer to bench.
Strict BB rows
20x132 lbs, 3x10x154 lbs
Mid and upper back pump.
Bis/tris
BB preacher curl at 66 lbs/DB overhead tricep extension at 45 lbs 3x10/12 each
Preachers heavier than I normally would on a bar, but the extra weight made a huge positive difference. Last few reps I was straining to move the weight but could really feel my biceps contracting in isolation. Sometimes just using whatever the last guy left on the bar works I guess.
Bike sprints 10 x 40 sec off/20 sec on at level 15
These were ridiculously easy compared to last week
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Woke at 185.2 lbs, which figures since I had lunch out yesterday. Looking decent I think, maybe some slight bloating but nothing extreme.
Today’s training
Lazy lifter
Stiff bar DL
TM is 484 lbs
Work up in 44 lbs from 132 lbs, 6 pull-ups between sets, all overhand
3x341 lbs, under 6 RPE, straps
2x390 lbs, under 6 RPE, straps
1x440 lbs, 6 RPE, straps
1x484 lbs, 7-8 RPE, mixed grip
1x511 lbs, 9 RPE
Sumo DL, beltless, straps 3x3x341 lbs, all under 6 RPE - these felt GREAT in socks, groove bang on. With briefs I think these will be awesome
Squat 5x5x308 lbs, beltless, all under 6 RPE
45 degree back raises squeeze at top, slow eccentric: 30, 25
Supersetted
BB suitcase holds 25 count per hand at 132 lbs: two rounds - probably up the weight next week
Plate raises 22 lbs: 40, 25
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Woke at 183.3 lbs. Looking as I am now sort of expecting at this weight. Was exhausted by the end of yesterday, work was busy.
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Doing all this volume without lower back pumps is really amazing.Work capacity’s on point
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I’m lucky I guess. Plus I do a bunch to make sure my back is strong. That helps.
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Woke at 184.1 lbs, looking much the same.
Today’s training
Lazy lifter plus shoulders
CGBP
TM is 220 lbs
Worked up from the bar in 22 lbs jumps to 60%, 20 pull aparts between sets
3x154 lbs, under 6 RPE
2x176 lbs, under 6 RPE
1x198 lbs, under 6 RPE
6x220 lbs, 9 RPE - rep PR by one
2x242 lbs, 9 RPE - rep PR by one
3x5x154 lbs, all around 6 RPE
Leg drive took a while to get snappy, and I think I was touching a tad low but obviously nothing terrible
Dips against bands
11, doubled light band
8, 7, doubled and double choked light band
These are cool, but weird. Feel almost entirely normal, then it’s like I suddenly put on another 50 odd pounds as I lock out. Pulls me forward too if I don’t pay attention, which is interesting.
Upper back was already cooked by this time. I think it’s starting to switch on hugely with the extra sets of pull-ups and pull aparts, as well as the facepulls I’ve been adding to my shoulder warm-ups. I’ve noticed it working harder these last couple of weeks.
DB rows
Worked up in 10s jumping 20 lbs at a time with short rests
40, 60, 80, 100, 120 lbs (left hand opened on eight at 120, had to reset to finish), straps on, 140
By the time I hit the 80s I had a great back pump
Bis/tris superset
U-bar pressdowns with hold at top and slow eccentric at 44 lbs
Cheat seated hammer curls with slow eccentric at 38 lbs
3x10/12, 60 second or less rest
Arm pump
All done in 90 minutes, as I was in a hurry to get to work so I really pushed the pace. I’ll incline walk tomorrow.
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