My Journey to Getting STRONG

5/3/1 Cycle 1 Wave 2 Day 2 - Sunday 9/5/10

Foam roll lower body

Deadlift
-ALL DOH-
95x1x5
125x1x3
145x1x3
165x1x3
185x1x20 PR!! Damn! Last 8 or so reps were all mental, just powered through the weight and crushed it!!

RDL (w/ straps)
135x1x6
155x1x6
165x1x6
175x1x6 PR
185x1x10 PR

HS Iso Lateral Seated Row
45psx1x8ps
70psx1x8ps
90psx1x18ps PR
65psx1x25ps PR

Abs (decline situps)
BWx15
BW+10x12 PR
BW+15x10 PR
BWx10

NOTES: Pretty good day. Deads were awesome just need to make sure back stays neutral and/or arched. Same goes for RDLs. The HS rows and abs were great. Great day overall! Keep it up!

5/3/1 Cycle 1 Wave 2 Day 3 - Tuesday 9/7/10

Foam roll upper body and mobility stretches

Bench Press
45x1x8
65x1x5
80x1x5
95x1x3
110x1x3
130x1x3
145x1x11 PR

Inc DB Bench
30x1x8 (FG)
45x1x8 (FG)
60x1x6 PR
40x1x16 PR

Facepulls
70x1x10
90x1x10
110x1x18 PR
100x1x22 PR

Skullcrushers
Barx1x10
30x1x8
50x1x4 or 5 PR (Too heavy)
45x1x8 PR (Good weight)
35x1x10 PR

Bicep Work (seated ez bar curl)
Barx1x10
20x1x8 (FG)
30x1x15 PR
20x1x30 PR

NOTES: Bench was good, spotter gave liftoff that I didnt ask for and the bar hit the rack on one side. Lost tightness. Glad I hit 10+ though, goal was 12. Inc DB im going to drop to 55’s even though I hit a +2 rep PR w/ 60’s. Want to be getting 8+ reps. 60 is still a bit heavy. Facepulls were great. Skullcrushers I got antsy and went for 50, too heavy but made up and hit 45 for a PR in my rep range. Biceps felt great. Overall a great day, Im pleased. Squat friday, gotta keep eating BIG!!!

5/3/1 Cycle 1 Wave 2 Day 4 - Friday 9/10/10

Foam roll and stretch lower body

Squat
85x1x5
110x1x5
130x1x3
150x1x3
170x1x3
195x1x12 PR HELL YEAH!

Front Squat
45x1x6
85x1x6
125x1x5
135x1x5
145x1x5
155x1x5 PR
45x1x5 (Paused 5 sec in the hole)

Lying Leg Curl
50x1x10
70x1x10
90x1x15 PR
80x1x16 PR

Calves (standing calf raise)
60x1x10
80x1x10
100x1x18 PR
90x1x16 PR

NOTES: Freakin awesome leg day. Squats were ATG and I really felt like I owned them. Huge PR! FS’s felt great, sick pump, great PR. Lowered weight on the leg curls to get full ROM, great burn. Calves were insane. Could barely walk after. Sick day!!

5/3/1 Cycle 1 Wave 3 Day 1 - Sunday 9/12/10

Upper body foam roll and mobility warmup

MP
45x1x5
55x1x5
65x1x3
80x1x5
90x1x3
100x1x6 PR

Dips
BWx6
BW+30x6
BW+55x6 PR (Control the weight!)
BWx11

Cybex plate loaded OHP
Machinex8
25psx8
1ppsx8
1pps+25psx8 PR
1ppsx12 PR

Chins
BWx5 (NG)
BWx3 (WG)
BWx5 (NG)
BWx4 (WG) PR
BWx8 (NG) PR (Keep body neutral)

Bicep work (hammer curls)
15x4ps (FG)
20x4ps (FG)
25x4ps (FG)
30x5ps (FG) PR
20x13ps (FG) PR

NOTES: Pretty good day. MP felt strong. Dips are feeling better. Nice change from seated db press to the plate loaded OHP. Chins were ok. Biceps hit a good PR.

5/3/1 Cycle 1 Wave 3 Day 2 - Tuesday 9/14/10

Foam roll and mobility for full body

Deadlift
95x1x5
135x1x3
155x1x5
175x1x3
195x1x22 PR

RDL (w/ straps)
135x1x6
165x1x6
175x1x6
185x1x6
205x1x8 PR

HS Seated Row (“Kroc Rows”)
45psx1x8ps
75psx1x8ps
105psx1x16ps PR
70psx1x26ps PR

Abs
Hanging Leg Raise
BWx5x5
Weighted Cable Crunch
80x1x10
100x1x10
120x1x10
140x1x18

NOTES: Didnt think today would be too great based on sleeping crappy last night and all. Wasnt bad at all though. REALLY focus on DL and RDL form and back arch. Big PRs in DL, RDL and HS rows though! Great day overall! Deload is getting close and Im not looking forward to that! New spud straps come today! Woot!

Just a little update cause Im pumped to lift tomorrow. Ill be benching tomorrow! Cant wait to hit some new PRs!

5/3/1 Cycle 1 Wave 3 Day 3 - Friday 9/17/10

Upper body foam roll and mobility warmup

Bench
45x2x5
65x1x5
80x1x5
95x1x3
120x1x5
135x1x3
150x1x8 PR

Inc DB Bench
30x1x8
40x1x8
50x1x10 PR
50x1x8
35x1x12

Facepulls
70x1x10
90x1x10
110x1x18 Tie PR
100x1x21

Skullcrushers
Barx1x8
30x1x8
45x1x9 PR
35x1x13 PR

Bicep work (Ez bar curls)
Barx10
20x1x8
35x1x6 PR
40x1x6 PR
45x1x5 PR
50x1x3 PR

NOTES: Not a bad day. Pretty happy with the 150x8 bench even though the goal was 10. Gotta remember never to wear the shirt I wore today to bench again. Upper back kept sliding on the bench. DBs felt somewhat heavy even though lower weight. FP’s, skulls, and biceps also felt heavy but good. Not sure but this could mean a deload is near…not looking forward to it. Finish cycle 1 on sunday with squats, then deload. Lets get it!

5/3/1 Cycle 1 Wave 3 Day 4 - Sunday 9/19/10

Foam Roll and Mobility Lower body warmup

Squat
85x1x5
115x1x5
135x1x3
160x1x5
185x1x3
205x1x11 PR

Front Squat
45x1x5
85x1x5
130x1x5
140x1x5
150x1x5 PR
160x1x5 PR
135x1x5 (3 sec pause in the hole) PR

HS Standing Single Leg Curls
Machinex10
10psx1x10
20psx1x10 PR
35psx1x20 PR
20psx1x28 PR

Calves Work (standing calf raise)
60x1x10
80x1x10
100x1x10
120x1x16 PR
100x1x20 PR

NOTES: Awesome last workout of cycle 1. Can tell I need the deload as much as I dont want to do it! Squats and front squats were intense. Last few reps were shaky but all were ATG! No depth problems at all. Hell yeah! HS curls felt great as did the standing calf raises. Already cant wait for cycle 2!

5/3/1 Cycle 1 DELOAD Day 1 - Tuesday 9/21/10

Foam roll and mobility upper and lower body warmup

MP
45x1x5
55x1x5
65x1x5

CGBP
45x1x8
75x1x8
95x1x8

Cybex OHP
25psx8
30psx8
35psx8

Chins
BWx5
BWx5
BWx5

Deadlift
135x1x5
145x1x5
155x1x5

RDL
135x1x6
145x1x6
155x1x6

H4M’s “Devil Rows”
95x1x10
135x2x10

Biceps (DB curls)
20x3x4ps

NOTES: In and out quickly. Good sweat. Dominated weights and focused on form. Implementing exercises Im doing in cycle 2. Love devil rows! Cant wait to finish deloading haha!

5/3/1 Cycle 1 DELOAD Day 2

Foam roll and mobility upper and lower body warmup

Bench
65x1x5
80x1x5
95x1x5

Inc DB Bench
25x1x8
30x1x8
35x1x8

HS Seated Row
25psx1x10ps
45psx1x10ps
55psx1x15ps

Skullcrushers
Barx8
10x1x8
20x1x8
20x1x8 (Deadstop(DS) skullcrushers)

Bicep work (seated ezbar curls)
Barx8
10x1x8
20x1x8

NOTES: Dominated the weights, focused on form. Bench felt good other than my upper back sliding. Fast reps for all exercises. DS skullcrushers felt awesome. They will be incorporated into Cycle 2. One more deload day left!!

5/3/1 Cycle 1 DELOAD Day 3

Foam roll and mobility lower body and mobility upper body

Squat
85x1x5
115x1x5
135x1x5

Front Squat
45x1x5
85x1x5
125x1x5

HS Standing Leg Curl
Machinex10
20psx1x10ps

Calves work(standing calf raise)
30x1x10
50x1x10
70x1x10

NOTES: Deload is over and im pumped! Need to keep eating ALOT of good food! Cycle 2! Lets get it!

Cycle 2 - 5/3/1 Max’s (90% of my actual 1RM)
Military Press: 110
Deadlift: 215 (I had started real light with my 1RM in cycle 1 because I had never deadlifted before)
Bench Press: 165
Squat: 225

Plan to retest 1RM’s after 4 cycles, but thats a while down the road!

5/3/1 Cycle 2 Wave 1 Day 1

Upper body mobility warm up

MP
45x1x5
55x1x5
65x1x5
70x1x5
85x1x5
95x1x10 PR Hell yeah!

CGBP
45x1x6
85x1x6
115x1x6
125x1x6 PR
135x1x10 PR Hell yeah again!

Cybex OHP
Machx1x8
25psx1x8
1ppsx1x8
1pps+25psx6 Eh!
1ppsx1x9.5 Eh!

Chins
BWx3 (WG)
BWx5 (NG)
BWx3 (WG)
BWx5 (NG)
BWx2.5 (WG)

Bicep (Hammer curls)
20x1x4ps (FG)
25x1x4ps (FG)
30x1x4ps (FG)
35x1x1ps (FG) Too Heavy
30x1x4ps (FG)
20x1x9ps (FG)

NOTES: Awesome day back! Huge PRs on MP and CGBP! Cybex OHP was heavy, shoulders must have been fried from MP. Chins dont seem to be progressing? Biceps were good. Great day back and awesome start to Cycle 2!

On another note, camcorder shipped saturday, supposed to come today but the stupid campus mail center receives all usps mail and disburses it. So it could have been delivered today but I wont get it til a day or two later. Sucks! Be on the lookout for vids though, pissed I couldnt get that 95x10 on vid!

5/3/1 Cycle 2 Wave 1 Day 2 - Thursday 9/30/10

Lower body mobility warm up

Deadlift
95x1x5
125x1x3
140x1x5
160x1x5
185x1x24 PR

RDL (w/ straps)
135x1x6
165x1x6
185x1x6
195x1x6
210x1x8 PR

Devil Rows
95x1x10
135x1x10
160x1x10 PR
185x1x8 PR

NOTES: Really intense session today. Focus on form on all 3 lifts, butt down, chest up! Felt great! Keep it up!

Camcorder came today. Heading home for the weekend, first vids will come next tuesday…bench press!

Feels good hitting PRs all the time doesnt it?
Keep killing it bro!!

5/3/1 Cycle 2 Wave 1 Day 3 - Tuesday 10/5/10

Upper body foam roll and mobility warm up

Bench
65x1x5
85x1x5
95x1x5
105x1x5
125x1x5
140x1x14 PR

VID: - YouTube

Inc DB Bench
30x1x8 (FG)
45x1x8 (FG)
60x1x9 PR Hell yeah, finally! Big PR!
40x1x13

HS Rows
45psx1x8ps
80psx1x8ps
110psx1x17ps PR
80psx1x11ps (FG) PR These were awesome, going to keep using FG’s on dropsets.

Skullcrushers (deadstop)
Barx1x8
30x1x8
50x1x10 PR
35x1x20 PR

Bicep work (seated ezbar curl)
Barx1x6
20x1x4
40x1x4
50x1x5 PR
35x1x8

NOTES: Great day. Wanted 15 on the bench but just lost it. Great PR though! Hell yeah on the Inc DB’s! Big PR on the HS rows as well. Deadstop skulls killed the triceps and ezbar curls killed the biceps! Great session!

@ebomb - Thanks bro! Absolutely loving going into the gym ready to and crushing PRs every session!

Great stuff man. Keep it up

5/3/1 Cycle 2 Wave 1 Day 4 - Friday 10/8/10

Lower body foam roll and mobility warm up

Squat
95x1x5
115x1x5
135x1x3
145x1x5
170x1x5
190x1x15 PR Fuck yeah!

VID: - YouTube
Sorry on the video cutoff guys. First time ever recording squats. Now I know I need to pull the camera back farther. They have these damn power racks so close together.

Front Squat
45x1x8
95x1x5
135x1x5
145x1x5
155x1x5
165x1x5 PR Fuck yeah!
145x1x5 (3 sec pause in hole)PR

VID: - YouTube
Sorry on the video cutoff guys. First time ever recording squats. Now I know I need to pull the camera back farther. They have these damn power racks so close together.

HS Standing Leg Curls
10psx1x10ps
25psx1x10ps
45psx1x14ps PR
35psx1x16ps PR

Standing Calf Raise
70x1x10
90x1x10
110x1x10
130x1x18 PR

Back Ext (45deg -SS- 90deg)
BWx10 → BWx10
BWx10 → BWx10
BWx10 → BWx10

NOTES: Intense session. Felt awesome. Glad I hit my goal PRs on Squat and FS. Woke up sick today so these PRs are awesome!

@mmatt - Thanks dude! Keep up the great work over in your log as well!

5/3/1 Cycle 2 Wave 2 Day 1 - Sunday 10/10/10

Upper body mobility warm up

MP
45x1x5
55x1x5
65x1x3
75x1x3
90x1x3
100x1x7.5 PR Ehh!

VID: - YouTube
I feel I can work on my form on MP. Any tips?

CGBP
45x1x6
95x1x6
125x1x6
135x1x6
145x1x7 PR

Chins
BWx5 (NG)
BWx3 (WG)
BWx5 (NG)
BWx3 (WG)
BWx5 (NG)

Cybex OHP
25psx1x8
1ppsx1x8
1pps+25psx10 PR
1ppsx1x9

Biceps (Hammer curls)
20x1x4ps (FG)
25x1x4ps (FG)
30x1x6ps (FG) PR
20x1x15ps (FG) PR

NOTES: Still sick. Pretty good MP PR. Goal was 8. But for being sick and feeling shitty Ill take it. Good PR on CGBP as well as Cybex OHP. Chins arent seeming to progress. Curls are curls, good PR.

Push your head through on the military presses.

[quote]mmatt wrote:
Push your head through on the military presses. [/quote]
Ok, any particularly good examples that you know of?