Rattler's Road to 300lbs

March 16th, 2009

Bench Press
Bar x however many
135lbs x 12
225lbs x 6
275lbs x 2
315lbs x 1
315lbs x 1
325lbs x 1 (failed)
315lbs x 1
225lbs x 10

Incline Smith Press
185lbs x 12
185lbs x 8
185lbs x 12

Incline Dumbell Flies
35lbs x 12
40lbs x 12
45lbs x 7

Pec Fly Machine
205lbs x 10
190lbs x 10
190lbs x 9
190lbs x 7

Barbell Tricep Extensions
100lbs x 12
100lbs x 12
100lbs x 12

Seated Cable Extensions
70lbs x 12
70lbs x 12
70lbs x 9

Cable Pushdowns
97.5lbs x 12
102.5lbs x 12
112.5lbs x 12
137.5lbs x 12
137.5lbs x 12

[quote]GenuineChevy39 wrote:
How are those front squats coming along?[/quote]

Almost as good as yours!

Thanks man!
I’m busting my ass

March 17th, 2009

Back Squats
Bar x 12
135lbs x 12
225lbs x 10
315lbs x 4
405lbs x 1
405lbs x 1
315lbs x 5

Front ATG Squats
135lbs x 8
185lbs x 6
185lbs x 3
185lbs x 4

Alternating Barbell Lunges
205lbs x 12
205lbs x 12
205lbs x 12

Seated Calve Raises
2 plates x 12
2 plates + 2 10s x 12
2 plates + 2 10s x 10

Standing Calve Raises
3 plates x 12
4 plates x 12
4 plates x 12
4 plates x 7
4 plates x 7

March 18th, 2009

Wide Grip Pullups
1 set of 6
2 sets of 4
1 set of 3

Barbell Rows
135lbs x 12
225lbs x 12
315lbs x 6
315lbs x 4
315lbs x 4

Wide Grip Pulldowns
180lbs x 12
200lbs x 10
200lbs x 10
180lbs x 7

Low Rope Rows
85lbs x 15
90lbs x 15
95lbs x 12
100lbs x 10

Laying Cable Pullovers
90lbs x 12 (practice set)
100lbs x 12
100lbs x 7
100lbs x 9

Alternating Dumbell Curls
35lbs x 24
35lbs x 24
35lbs x 20

Barbell Curls
70lbs x 10
70lbs x 8
70lbs x 7

Concentration Cruls
35lbs x 8
35lbs x 6
35lbs x 6

March 19th, 2009

Barbell Presses
Bar x 20
135lbs x 6

Clean & Jerks
185lbs x 1
205lbs x 1
225lbs x 1
230lbs x 1

Alternating Dumbell Snatches
90lbs x 6
90lbs x 6
90lbs x 6
90lbs x 4
90lbs x 6

Dumbell Presses
60lbs x 12
60lbs x 10
60lbs x 8

Lateral Dumbell Raises
30lbs x 12
30lbs x 12
30lbs x 12
35lbs x 9

Barbell Shrugs
315lbs x 12
405lbs x 5
405lbs x 6
405lbs x 6


Dumbell snatches have to be one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. While getting it up there isn’t hard really, just the action of doing it over and over again tires me out completely.

After 4 reps I’m pretty much dead, the last two are absolutely brutal to push out. Lastly, I don’t think I’ve ever sweat so much working out in my life.

Dumbell snatches, I love you.

March 20th, 2009

Deadlifts
135lbs x 12
225lbs x 4
315lbs x 2
405lbs x 1
455lbs x 1
500lbs x 1 (failed)
500lbs x 1 (failed)
500lbs x 1 (failed)
405lbs x 1

Front Squats - ATG
135lbs x 8
185lbs x 4
185lbs x 4

Back Squats
275lbs x 6
275lbs x 6
275lbs x 2

Ive just spent the last 25 minutes reading your entire training blog, and must say im mightily impressed in your progress…
Keep at it and im sure you will attain;
Deadlift - 600
Squat - 500
Bench - 400
Military Press - 225
By 2010/2011

MJ-Cartwright
Strength Coach
Pontypridd, South Wales

March 21st, 2009

Bench Press
135lbs x 10
225lbs x 6
275lbs x 3
315lbs x 1
325lbs x 1
330lbs x 1
275lbs x 4
275lbs x 2

Alternating Dumbell Snatches
90lbs x 6
90lbs x 6
90lbs x 4
90lbs x 6

Pullups
3 sets of 4

March 23rd, 2009

Bench Press
Bar x whatever
135lbs x 10
225lbs x 4
275lbs x 2
315lbs x 1
315lbs x 1 (spotted)
275lbs x 3
245lbs x 6

Incline Dumbell Press
90lbs x 12
90lbs x 9
90lbs x 11
90lbs x 9

Incline Dumbell Flies
35lbs x 12
40lbs x 12
45lbs x 12
50lbs x 12
55lbs x 10
40lbs x 12

Barbell Tricep Extensions
100lbs x 12
100lbs x 12
100lbs x 4 (Elbow gave out)

Cable Pushdowns
97.5lbs x 12
107.5lbs x 12
132.5lbs x 12
142.5lbs x 12
177.5lbs x 12
187.5lbs x 5


Damn skullcrushers, I’ve never had a problem with my elbow until today. I don’t think I’ll be doing those for a bit. Time for fish oil!

I also hate people who wear pink shirts and never train their legs. Fuck them and their shark shit breath.

I’ve found I can never do skullcrushers or any kind of barbell extensions for more than 4-6 weeks at time before my elbows start to bother me. Usually if I give them a break for 4-6 weeks, I can come right back to them without issue.

Pink shirts that never train legs? Please tell me those are women you are talking about. Not that it’s good that there are women that don’t train legs, but ‘men’ wearing pink shirts cannot be called men.

[quote]AngryVader wrote:
I’ve found I can never do skullcrushers or any kind of barbell extensions for more than 4-6 weeks at time before my elbows start to bother me. Usually if I give them a break for 4-6 weeks, I can come right back to them without issue.

Pink shirts that never train legs? Please tell me those are women you are talking about. Not that it’s good that there are women that don’t train legs, but ‘men’ wearing pink shirts cannot be called men.[/quote]

Unfortunately, he is not a woman.

Seriously though, he is the most annoying person I have ever seen at a gym. And his stench… Unholy.

Also, Vader… You had shoulder issues right?

[quote]Rattler wrote:
AngryVader wrote:
I’ve found I can never do skullcrushers or any kind of barbell extensions for more than 4-6 weeks at time before my elbows start to bother me. Usually if I give them a break for 4-6 weeks, I can come right back to them without issue.

Pink shirts that never train legs? Please tell me those are women you are talking about. Not that it’s good that there are women that don’t train legs, but ‘men’ wearing pink shirts cannot be called men.

Unfortunately, he is not a woman.

Seriously though, he is the most annoying person I have ever seen at a gym. And his stench… Unholy.

Also, Vader… You had shoulder issues right?[/quote]

Yes, still do have shoulder issues. The right labrum is partially torn and I have type III acromiums, so my shoulders are prone to inflammation. Why? Are you having some shoulder issues?

[quote]AngryVader wrote:
Rattler wrote:
AngryVader wrote:
I’ve found I can never do skullcrushers or any kind of barbell extensions for more than 4-6 weeks at time before my elbows start to bother me. Usually if I give them a break for 4-6 weeks, I can come right back to them without issue.

Pink shirts that never train legs? Please tell me those are women you are talking about. Not that it’s good that there are women that don’t train legs, but ‘men’ wearing pink shirts cannot be called men.

Unfortunately, he is not a woman.

Seriously though, he is the most annoying person I have ever seen at a gym. And his stench… Unholy.

Also, Vader… You had shoulder issues right?

Yes, still do have shoulder issues. The right labrum is partially torn and I have type III acromiums, so my shoulders are prone to inflammation. Why? Are you having some shoulder issues?[/quote]

No, my shoulders are A-Okay. However, my training partner who goes by GenuineChevy on this site has a lot of shoulder problems. I was wondering if you could the dude some pointers on how to work on em a bit. He’s got his own training log which he just started as well.

[quote]Rattler wrote:
AngryVader wrote:
Rattler wrote:
AngryVader wrote:
I’ve found I can never do skullcrushers or any kind of barbell extensions for more than 4-6 weeks at time before my elbows start to bother me. Usually if I give them a break for 4-6 weeks, I can come right back to them without issue.

Pink shirts that never train legs? Please tell me those are women you are talking about. Not that it’s good that there are women that don’t train legs, but ‘men’ wearing pink shirts cannot be called men.

Unfortunately, he is not a woman.

Seriously though, he is the most annoying person I have ever seen at a gym. And his stench… Unholy.

Also, Vader… You had shoulder issues right?

Yes, still do have shoulder issues. The right labrum is partially torn and I have type III acromiums, so my shoulders are prone to inflammation. Why? Are you having some shoulder issues?

No, my shoulders are A-Okay. However, my training partner who goes by GenuineChevy on this site has a lot of shoulder problems. I was wondering if you could the dude some pointers on how to work on em a bit. He’s got his own training log which he just started as well.[/quote]

Sure, I’ll go check out his log.

March 24th, 2009

Back Squats
135lbs x 12
225lbs x 6
315lbs x 2
405lbs x 1
405lbs x 1

Back Squats ATG
315lbs x 5
315lbs x 3

Front Squats
135lbs x 8
185lbs x 4
205lbs x 2
205lbs x 2

Front Squats ATG
205lbs x 1
225lbs x 1
245lbs x 1

Seated Calve Raises
2 plates + 2 10s x 12 - 4 sets

Standing Calve Raises
3 plates x 12
4 plates x 12
4 plates x 12
4 plates x 9
4 plates x 9


Everybody remembers when they fart doing squats right?
Well today I did, and it hurt. I assume it was from the force of the weight on me and me being at the very bottom. Compressed fart is what I called it.

That is all.

March 25th, 2009

Pullups
2 sets of 4
1 set of 3

Barbell Rows
135lbs x 10
185lbs x 10
185lbs x 10
185lbs x 10
185lbs x 10
185lbs x 10
185lbs x 10
185lbs x 10
185lbs x 10
185lbs x 10
185lbs x 10

Wide Grip Pulldowns
160lbs x 12
180lbs x 10
180lbs x 9

Low Rope Rows
90lbs x 12
90lbs x 12
90lbs x 10
90lbs x 11

Behind The Neck Pulldowns
120lbs x 10
120lbs x 12
120lbs x 10

Interval Sprints
30sec on
30sec off
Level 9


Apparently 185lbs isn’t enough. I’ll try 205lbs next week.

[quote]Rattler wrote:

Everybody remembers when they fart doing squats right?
Well today I did, and it hurt. I assume it was from the force of the weight on me and me being at the very bottom. Compressed fart is what I called it.

That is all.[/quote]

I saw a kid fart during a DL attempt at a meet last Saturday. He lost his concentration, stepped out, and missed the lift.

It was hard to not giggle.

Are you giving GVT a try?

[quote]AngryVader wrote:
Are you giving GVT a try?[/quote]

I am on some things yeah. I really thought 185 would have been enough though.

March 26th, 2009

Standing Barbell Presses
Bar x 20
135lbs x 8
155lbs x 6
185lbs x 2
205lbs x 1

Clean & Jerks
225lbs x 1
225lbs x 1
235lbs x 1
235lbs x 1

Alternating Dumbell Snatches
90lbs x 6
90lbs x 4
90lbs x 4
90lbs x 4

Dumbell Presses
60lbs x 11
60lbs x 9
60lbs x 9

Lateral Raises
30lbs x 12
30lbs x 12
35lbs x 10
35lbs x 10

Interval Sprints
30sec on
30sec off
Level 9.5


Seriously, I think my Clean & Jerks today were spot on perfect. I don’t know why, but I had this intensity on them that I haven’t experienced before.

It must have been the bread.