[quote]mrodock wrote:
Holy shit Ramo’s back! Maybe I would have seemed less like a fan boy if I had waited a solid 10 minutes after you posted.[/quote]
Haha, what’s goin on bud! Good to be back at it.
[quote]novaeer wrote:
Some of my friends have gone to The Weight Room and all I’ve heard are good things. Pretty hardcore environment. It’s right off N Blvd in the downtown area. Check it out at Rivercitystrongman.com.[/quote]
Thanks man. I’m planning to go there tomorrow and have a look.
[quote]Ramo wrote:
3/26/09 Squat
Squat
135x5
185x5
225x5
275x5
295x5
315x6
Stiff-leg GM
135x10
135x10
Hanging Pike
Bx5
Bx5
Bx5
Haven’t gone this long without touching a weight since I started lifting. In the last month, my life has basically turned on its head. Couple weeks ago I loaded up my car and drove from Seattle to Richmond, VA. I have been scrambling to ge things together out here, living in a friend’s house, looking for work.
I’m starting to get settled here and was ready to get back under the bar. The squat groove was surprisingly good, I’m sure I’ll feel like I’ve been hit by a truck tomorrow but that’s fine. Still shopping around for a gym so if anybody knows Richmond, please advise. [/quote]
Good luck with your new location and all.
I hope you manage to find a suitable gym instead of ending up like me 
[quote]Ramo wrote:
mrodock wrote:
Holy shit Ramo’s back! Maybe I would have seemed less like a fan boy if I had waited a solid 10 minutes after you posted.
Haha, what’s goin on bud! Good to be back at it. [/quote]
Trying Sheiko and so far so good except 3 of my fingers on my right hand get extremely numb during workouts. Pretty sure that isn’t good. And I threw-up for the first time in 14 years on Wednesday, but that was kind of cool, thanks Boris!
Oh and I switched to sumo deadlift and I’m a little better at it than conventional.
And I’m methodically working on my bench technique, I’m slowing checking off items from your bench technique checklist (got it from a post of your’s). That’s about it for me.
3/28/09 Press
Military
45x8
95x5
115x5
135x5
155x10
Pullup
Bx6
Bx6
Bx6
Bx5
DB Shrug
85x15
85x15
85x15
Short and sweet. I know I’ve heard that when you take a layoff from training, there’s some muscle fiber conversion from I and IIA to IIX. Maybe just in my head, but I do feel pretty fast and explosive, and at the same time weaker and less stable. Now to get stronger and tighter but stay fast…
[quote]mrodock wrote:
Ramo wrote:
mrodock wrote:
Holy shit Ramo’s back! Maybe I would have seemed less like a fan boy if I had waited a solid 10 minutes after you posted.
Haha, what’s goin on bud! Good to be back at it.
Trying Sheiko and so far so good except 3 of my fingers on my right hand get extremely numb during workouts. Pretty sure that isn’t good. And I threw-up for the first time in 14 years on Wednesday, but that was kind of cool, thanks Boris!
Oh and I switched to sumo deadlift and I’m a little better at it than conventional.
And I’m methodically working on my bench technique, I’m slowing checking off items from your bench technique checklist (got it from a post of your’s). That’s about it for me.[/quote]
Well you’ll get plenty of technique work benching significant weight 3x/week. But that shit with your hand is obviously worrisome. Did it only start when you switched to this style of training?
With Sumo you may be stronger but with that plus squatting the way you do your hips are going to be absolutely beat to shit. Maybe you are already experiencing this.
And throwing up is the most catabolic thing you can do, don’t make a habit of it. Once in awhile, it is cool though.
If your hips start giving you a hard time, you might get a loose pair of groove briefs for squatting. Just going for a little support here, nothing that will really give you added poundage. You could even wear them for sumo pulling.
Good to hear from you man.
4/11/09 Bench
Bench
135x8
185x5
225x5
245x5
Dip
Bx12
Bx12
Bx8
Chinup
Bx6
Bx6
Bx6
DB Cuban Press
10x15
10x15
Back for real this time. In the past month I’ve ended a four year relationship, quit my job, driven across the country, slept on friends’ couches, started a new job at a downtown law firm in Richmond, lost about 20 lbs and plenty of strength I’m sure, and finally, yesterday, found a gym I am happy with.
It is out of the way but not too bad. Nothing much to say about the session, just reestablishing a base.
[quote]Ramo wrote:
Well you’ll get plenty of technique work benching significant weight 3x/week. But that shit with your hand is obviously worrisome. Did it only start when you switched to this style of training?
With Sumo you may be stronger but with that plus squatting the way you do your hips are going to be absolutely beat to shit. Maybe you are already experiencing this.
And throwing up is the most catabolic thing you can do, don’t make a habit of it. Once in awhile, it is cool though.
If your hips start giving you a hard time, you might get a loose pair of groove briefs for squatting. Just going for a little support here, nothing that will really give you added poundage. You could even wear them for sumo pulling.
Good to hear from you man.[/quote]
I am feelings worlds comfortable on the bench now. My technique has gotten significantly better and I’ve officially entered the darkside, I’ve benched in a cheater shirt.
Hand issue has resolved itself about 95%. I think I pinched a nerve when I was using the hook grip or something.
Hips don’t feel too bad, I’ll certainly keep a close eye on it though. I appreciate the tip for if I start having problems, thanks!
Don’t worry, I’m not becoming a binge eater or anything quite like that. Just one weird incident.
Should have my next meet on June 27.
Hope things are going well with you!
Matt
[quote]Ramo wrote:
Back for real this time. In the past month I’ve ended a four year relationship, quit my job, driven across the country, slept on friends’ couches, started a new job at a downtown law firm in Richmond, lost about 20 lbs and plenty of strength I’m sure, and finally, yesterday, found a gym I am happy with. It is out of the way but not too bad. Nothing much to say about the session, just reestablishing a base. [/quote]
Now I can see your post . . . holy hell! Looks as though you’ve been through a helluva lot. Wishing you a very strong return!
4/12/09 Squat
Squat
135x5
185x5
225x5
275x5
325x5
GHR
Bx10
Bx10
Bx10
Hanging Pike
Bx6
Bx6
Bx6
Neck Harness
…
4/16/09 Bench Assist
45x8
95x5
115x5
135x5
155x9
Pullup
Bx6
Bx6
Bx6
Bx4
Bent Pitcher Raise
20x15
20x15
5/3/09 Deadlift
Deadlift
135x5
225x5
315x5
345x5
375x5
Dynamic Lunge
45x5
95x5
95x5
95x5
Hanging Pike
Bx5
Bx5
Bx5
Haven’t pulled in two and a half months. Bodyweight is down to about 205. At the beginning of the year I was around 235.
5/5/09 Bench
Bench
45x8
135x5
185x5
205x5
225x6
Dip
Bx10
25x10
25x10
Pullup
Bx6
Bx6
Bx5
Supersetted the dips and pullups. Gonna take awhile to get back.
5/7/09 Squat
135x5
185x5
245x5
285x5
315x5
GHR
Bx10
Bx10
Bx10
Leg Raise
Bx12
Bx12
Bx12
It’s a rebuilding year…
5/12/09 Update
Gonna go ahead and put this log on ice until there’s something worth putting up. The point was to get feedback and share my training with other lifters, both raw powerlifters and other guys interested in strength, and I hope a couple people got something out of it. I certainly did. For right now, I’m not in a place where posting what I’m doing is really going to help anybody. By the same token, my strength has fallen off to where the things I need to do to get it back are pretty basic.
Anyhow, if anybody’s still around, thanks for reading this thing, and particularly to Ceph, mrodock, Modi, Tirib, and apwsearch for all the help and good talk. It’s appreciated. The powerlifting thing’s on hold for me right now, but if any of you boys want to talk lifting, shoot me a PM. I always enjoy talking with you guys.
All the best to you Ramo, sure appreciate all the feedback and advice you’ve provided me.