Got sad thinking about how I’ll never deadlift 475 x 3 for a second time. That was my best-ever conv. Deadlift set.
I don’t wanna risk my back health so I’m sticking w the trap bar forever. Hopefully I can maintain the hinge movement with RDLs.
I’m hoping to knock down 545 on the low handles early next year. If I can deadlift 585 on the hex bar for multiple reps I’ll be happy.
Dude, I went 3 years between conventional deadlift attempts in my early 20s. Blew out my back, and every time I tried it would keep happening. I eventually discovered ROM progression and started competing in powerlifting and finally healed up enough that I was able to blow past my old PRs and lift them for reps.
You’re still young, and though you’ve gone through hell, you’ve got a LOT of lifting ahead of you. You’re doing the smart thing now and healing, but nothing is forever at this point.
Your press is really great, while I’m just some dumbass who doesn’t know much of anything, I feel like this persistently small of a delta between your press and your bench suggests your technique is sub-optimal for your build.
Sometimes when I stop doing a movement and come back to it months later I find that I perform better because I’ve forgotten exactly how to do it, and therefore unlearned some bad habits. Have you considered taking a few months away from barbell bench and maybe just focusing on DB bench?
Man, my best strict press is 185. The disparity between my press and bench is embarrassing.
I haven’t trained press for a while because the last time I hit 135 x 10 I tweaked something in my lower back. I’m trying to build back up slowly.
I actually noticed this with squats, as I took a few months away from them (since early October) and I had a good session today.
Squat
135 x 5
185 x 3
205 x 3
225 x 3
275 x 3
315 x 3
335 x 3
345 x 5
365 x 3
385 for two singles
Hopefully I don’t get too sore because I kept the reps low.
I’m weighing in at 193 on the nose, so I’m around 10 pounds lighter than I was back then.
Gotta get back to this minus the double ply knee sleeves:
Went to boxing today.
We ran around a lot, did at least 200 pushups, lots of bag work, mitts, and sparring for an hour straight. No breaks. That’s my downfall when it comes to nausea
Was going good until I projectile vomited everywhere. Puked all over the equipment in front of everyone. Couldn’t even make it to the trash.
To be honest, I lasted much longer than I did last week so it’s progress but it’s not though.
Happened last week too. I know what the problem is but I’m frustrated because it’s medicine related and I don’t have a solution.
I’m gonna keep striving regardless but if somebody has information or anecdotal advice about MK677 I would really appreciate it.
I got in touch with a doctor but I have a sinking feeling they’re going to be less than helpful. Thanks guys
Bench
45 x 10
95 x 5
135 x 5
185 x 3
205 x 3
185 x 8
205 x 5
185 x 2 x 5
175 x 7
155 x 10
135 x 10
Super set with 100 pull ups and 100 dips, I think I broke 100 today
Being lighter = sets of 10 during workouts, I do five chin ups every time I walk past this:
EZ Bar Bicep Curl
100 x 10
90 x 2 x 10
80 x 7 x 10
This is certainly the best my bench has ever felt, especially at this BW
Set a new EZ bar bicep curl PR.
110, 125, 130 x 1
I want to program percentages and take my arm growth seriously. I have largely focused on back work to get to this point.
Trap Bar DL (Low-Handle)
Worked up to 405 x 7, 455 for a quick single, and 365 x 3 x 5. I wanted to do eight but I chose to save my back health for next week.
Don’t want to agitate my back beyond what’s necessary. Did some Pendlay rows as well.
There’s so much ROM compared to a regular barbell deadlift, tbh.
Did Ezbar curls
90 x 5 x 10
Decent form?
Did 205 x 10, 205 x 10, 185 x 10, 185 x 13, 185 x 7 to get 50 total reps
It’s been great to work out consistently on my schedule. I hope to surpass old PRs and get better at fighting as well.
Strict Press
45 x 10
95 x 5
115 x 3
135 x 7
125 x 5 x 5
115 x 10
115 x 9
95 x 2 x 10
Superset with 120 chin-ups/pull-ups done in batches of 10. I can really bang out chin ups now. I could prob do 20 in a single set at my current BW.
Also did 100 dips total throughout the day as my triceps recovered
From now on I’m gonna use the bumper plates for pressing movements. I think the iron clanging around on the barbell threw me off, as 115 felt significantly easier when I switched to my 35 pound pair of bumpers.
Nonetheless, still a recent PR for OHP
I stole this from Jim Wendler and it’s such a solid move.
I was genuinely shocked at the difference. Better I know now for next week’s lifts
Squat
45 x 10
135 x 5
185 x 3
225 x 3
275 x 3
315 x 2
345 x 7
365 x 3
315 x 3 x 5
295 x 2 x 5
I think I’m gonna invest in a more capable barbell. Squat is feeling great especially considering this is my second time practicing the movement since October.
I don’t think I’ve ever been this light and able to squat this much. I’ve been eating far more regularly.
I discovered that my prescribed Levothyroxine makes it impossible for me to keep food down. I can’t just stop taking it because I get slammed with unbearable fatigue, but I dropped from 75 mcg/daily to 12.5 mcg every two days.
It’s been at least a year since I felt any type of hunger during the day, so I am feeling positive vibes ahead.
Food is the key to my growth and if my appetite sticks around I’ll be unstoppable. I’ve been fueling up with steak, 93/7 ground beef, rolled date bites, avocado, peanut butter, oats, bananas, that sort of thing.
I have eight more years of being natty. I can jump on T when I turn 30, but I’m hoping to reach my natural strength peak by 28-ish?
I haven’t been using MK cause I’m too scared of how MK affects the pituitary gland. I was born with Hashimoto’s
Far later than that. As long as you keep away from big injuries, you can grow in strength well into your 30s. Strength is the quality that takes the longest time to build and, in turn, the longest time to lose. It’s why you got dudes like Mark Felix, Nick Best, etc. out there. And yeah, those guys are enhanced, but that’s exactly what that word means: it enhances what’s already going on under the hood. It won’t create a new peak.
Now, TESTOSTERONE might peak in the late 20s, but your strength will still continue to grow beyond that point, as there’s a lot to be said about laying down a foundation of connective tissue strength and flat out maturity that goes into getting older and more capable.
Lifts coming together
Bench
45 x 10
95 x 5
135 x 5
185 x 10
205 x 6
185 x 8
185 x 6
185 x 7
185 x 5
185 x 7
175 x 8
165 x 10
Barbell Row
185 x 2 x 10
205 x 2 x 10
225 x 2 x 10
EZ bar bicep curl
115 x 10
105 x 15
95 x 20
95 x 20
30 ab wheel roll outs
Dips and pull-ups all through yesterday and today
Weighing in around 193
Low-Handle Trap Bar DL
135 x 5
225 x 3
315 x 3
365 x 3
405 x 3
455 x 5 — Got a PR, but I think I strained so hard I opened up the scar from my wisdom tooth surgery back in April.
385 x 3 x 3
365 x 5
Called it here as I did a few beltless back-off sets and I wanted to play it safe with my back.
Did EZ bar curls in batches of 10 as well.
Holy buckets! Was it worth it??
I think so, because it doesn’t hurt today.
Strict Press
45 x 10
95 x 5
115 x 5
135 x 8
155 x 2
145 x 3
115 x 10
115 x 9 + 1
115 x 8 + 2
105 x 10
Arms are fried
Squat
45 x 10
135 x 5
225 x 3
275 x 3
315 x 3
365 x 6
385 x 3
345 x 5
315 x 5 x 5
This was all I had in me today. Will probably do some ab wheels later on.
