Much respect DG
So I hit the gym today and yes boys I actually intentionally held back.
DB Bench with 80’s instead of 130’s for sets of 10 probably could have done 20+.
Some face pulls, I did go a bit heavier here.
I even threw in some DB shoulder presses [I never do shoulder presses] with 40lb DB’s. I did a couple sets of 20 there.
Finished with some calves of course.
Just got some blood flowing basically.
De-load in progress
Hope everyone like the new avatar 
Heading to the gym… yes, yes, yes I will take it easy and continue de-loading. Only my second time this week and its Friday. I’m being good.
Hit the reverse band press today for the first time in 10 days. 585x2 with my 2 board so its close to where it was. I was thinking I was back sliding a bit until I dropped to 495 and hit 14 for a PR. So despite de-loading and despite not three more than three times in the last eight days I’m still hitting PR’s. Other PR’s today included Tbar rows 225x10, cable rows 300x20 and a calf press 500x36.
I’m fighting the urge to train on consecutive days. Elbows and shoulder were ok after today, not great but definitely ok. I still need me some elbow sleeves.
My bacne is still prevalent but today I got some tretinoin cream from GD [thanks again]. I suppose I will have the gf start putting that on me.
I’m going to read thru Jim Wendler’s new book [thanks 5, damn I got a lot of nice friend here on the nation :)] where he only has you train three days a week anyway.
Only bad news is my lower back is mega sore and strained from all the tbar and cable rows I did. Had not done tbars in awhile and damn that’s a tough balancing act with nearly your bodyweight in your hands. Then I PR’d cable rows which I was not expecting after the tbars.
I know I say I’m de-loading but with all the PR’s I’m setting perhaps I’m not doing it so well… oh well. Maybe I just need the extra days off. Wednesday I will take it nice and easy, maybe
So I did end up tweaking my low back on Monday 8/18. This latest tweak has truly forced me to throttle back a gear. I did go to the gym wednesday and all I did were some 45º hyperextensions and some abs. The astute reader will probably not the complete absence of me mentioning abs in my log here. Sure for awhile I was doing a lot of reverse hypers but frankly I have not done those in a few months. Once my big lifts started surging I neglected the little things like “core” and rotators.
Some had heard this from me before but now I’m at least being active or pro-active for injury preventation. I gotta give T-Nation some credit. It was partly their Reg Park article that convinced me I probably need to be doing some “core” work every trip to the gym.
Anyway, there is a substantial likelihood you guys won’t be seeing a lot, if any, more PR’s from me for quite some time. I need to re-focus here. Of course I want to break some records and all but I cannot do that if I’m always hurt or tweaked. So I’m officially taking one step back in hopes to take two steps forward.
Also, I’m going to finally, FINALLY start adding some “friends” after 4 years here. I’m doing sort of pure of memory here so if somebody thinks they’ve helped me out a lot [and many of you have] but I fail to initially add you, please excuse the lack of memory on my part.
I’ll throw a post in here every few days to keep things up to date and all. The stasis is going well. Strength obviously has not waned to much. Weight is about the same as August 1 too, maybe a single pound less. So all seems to be on track for well maintained gains. Now I just need to re-balance my weak points and avoid these tweaks I’m all to prone to.
I have gotten tweaks more this cycle than ever before. Perhaps the lack of Deca was a factor? Anyway, steady as she goes.
Hey Saps, just finished reading your log. Looks like nice progress was made. Good choice of compounds- Test E has always been one of your favorites and most recommended. I am getting myself back into intense lifting now after a long few months, so hopefully I’ll make relative gains :). Good luck with your back though- don’t want to mess that up too bad. Keep us posted.
The prodigal son returns
Yeah easy does it is my motto for the next few weeks. If I end up losing some strength so be it. Better that than a real crippling injury from pushing too hard too long.
Nice to see you back tico
[quote]AlteredState wrote:
You could always make the switch to more ‘bodybuilder’ type training.
You know, instead of hammering your joints with max compound lifts, you could get a hold of them pink dumbells and do some tricep kickbacks ;)[/quote]
Now come on, I know we are all thinking it and if nobody wants to say it I will.
[b]Jazzercise[/b]
With your calves and a matching set of sweatbands and a pair of leg warmers, you’ll be the belle of the gym…
[quote]MrZsasz wrote:
AlteredState wrote:
You could always make the switch to more ‘bodybuilder’ type training.
You know, instead of hammering your joints with max compound lifts, you could get a hold of them pink dumbells and do some tricep kickbacks
Now come on, I know we are all thinking it and if nobody wants to say it I will.
[b]Jazzercise[/b]
With your calves and a matching set of sweatbands and a pair of leg warmers, you’ll be the belle of the gym…[/quote]
Mr. Z, with posts like this, you are quickly moving up the line to become the belle of this forum. You get a cycle under your belt and you are liable to be unstoppable
[quote]AlteredState wrote:
You could always make the switch to more ‘bodybuilder’ type training.
You know, instead of hammering your joints with max compound lifts, you could get a hold of them pink dumbells and do some tricep kickbacks ;)[/quote]
Hey Alt, yeah that’s what I was telling our boy via pm not long ago also. He has the density from all the powerlifting that really compliments and brings that extra something to a bodybuilding trained physique’s table. It’s not easy to get that finished look without the history of very heavy lifting imho.
There that’s two votes now Saps, anyone else think it’s time for the old boy to drop some intensity and add some bodybuilding isolation moves and volume/reps?
How can you go wrong buddy? Remember now, you’re almost getting to my age, and the ol body can only take so much. Take it from me and change now while you can transition before getting afu. 
I just want to say on behalf of a lot of guys here also, that it’s been GREAT reading all your logs and posts since you came back this year from your hiatus.
Your contributions are, and always have been, very eloquent and helpful, without ever having even a TRACE of arrogance, like so easily can come over even the best of guys with experience from time to time.
Keep on keepin on, hopefully you’ll give more thought to venturiing into brother bodybuildings take on the iron my friend.
Best always,
ToneBone
[quote]AlteredState wrote:
You could always make the switch to more ‘bodybuilder’ type training.
You know, instead of hammering your joints with max compound lifts, you could get a hold of them pink dumbells and do some tricep kickbacks ;)[/quote]
OH AS only you could be so funny, tricep kickbacks. I will admit I tried them once…once. I think Ronald Reagan was still the USA President back then too
Its kinda funny you mention bodybuilding stuff because I have been doing lateral raises in the gym and rather quickly my “side delts” have filling in rather nicely. Oh listen to me, next thing you know I will be increasing ROM on chest exercises for the purpose of “getting swole pecs”
Heaven help me if I find my way over to the cable crossover machine.
[quote]MrZsasz wrote:
AlteredState wrote:
You could always make the switch to more ‘bodybuilder’ type training.
You know, instead of hammering your joints with max compound lifts, you could get a hold of them pink dumbells and do some tricep kickbacks
Now come on, I know we are all thinking it and if nobody wants to say it I will.
[b]Jazzercise[/b]
With your calves and a matching set of sweatbands and a pair of leg warmers, you’ll be the belle of the gym…[/quote]
I do already have wrestling shoes, all be it tattered. That would make quite the outfit for me over on the cable crossove machine
[quote]saps wrote:
"…Oh listen to me, next thing you know I will be increasing ROM on chest exercises for the purpose of “getting swole pecs”
Heaven help me if I find my way over to the cable crossover machine…"[/quote]
hahaha! 
[quote]InTheZone wrote:
AlteredState wrote:
You could always make the switch to more ‘bodybuilder’ type training.
You know, instead of hammering your joints with max compound lifts, you could get a hold of them pink dumbells and do some tricep kickbacks
Hey Alt, yeah that’s what I was telling our boy via pm not long ago also. He has the density from all the powerlifting that really compliments and brings that extra something to a bodybuilding trained physique’s table. It’s not easy to get that finished look without the history of very heavy lifting imho.
There that’s two votes now Saps, anyone else think it’s time for the old boy to drop some intensity and add some bodybuilding isolation moves and volume/reps?
How can you go wrong buddy? Remember now, you’re almost getting to my age, and the ol body can only take so much. Take it from me and change now while you can transition before getting afu.
I just want to say on behalf of a lot of guys here also, that it’s been GREAT reading all your logs and posts since you came back this year from your hiatus. Your contributions are, and always have been, very eloquent and helpful, without ever having even a TRACE of arrogance, like so easily can come over even the best of guys with experience from time to time.
Keep on keepin on, hopefully you’ll give more thought to venturiing into brother bodybuildings take on the iron my friend.
Best always,
ToneBone[/quote]
Took me a moment on afu Tone
First, let me say I really appreciate the kind words. I do try to pay it forward as much as I can. I know there are more experienced and wiser guys out there than me. But I also know I’m probably well beyond the tnation median average of training and AAS experience so I do what I can.
Second, yes I certainly have heard the pleas for this ole boy [not even close to your age Tone ;)] to return to the BB lifestyle. Forget not that until I was 29 I was trying to do the bodybuilding thing. I switched to PL in part because at 29 despite gaining some muscle weight I was basically the same strength level as 20.
I think I might do the following. I can still follow the Westside Template but I can replace Max Effort days with Repetition Effort days. Or replace DE days with RE days too.
As strong and big as I’ve gotten I do sometimes wonder how big I’d be [I’m sure I’d be less strong] if I focused more on size than strength. Of course as Dave Tate always says the two are not separate and distinct.
I guess the difference is years ago I would be doing Incline Dumbbell Presses with 90’s for sets of 10-12 and now if I chose to do that movement I’d be using like 120’s for that same rep range.
So let’s compromise and say I will need to slightly back off from joint grinding maxes a small bit. I will add in some more traditionally BB stuff. However, don’t hold your guys breathe on the tricep kickbacks and cable crossovers ;). I’m still not very concerned with my quad teardrop and v-taper.
Jim Wendler often says PR’s don’t have to me 1RM’s either. I could go for PR’s for a set of 10 or 12. I know I am kinda of guinea pig being watched to see how I do of course. Its kinda embarrassing how much I’ve been getting little tweaks lately. I’ll do right by myself though. I’ll take care of my joints and body as a whole too.
As always thanks so much to all who take the time to read and comment.