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Training
381

[quote]debraD wrote:
If you don’t mind me asking, how does floor press compare to bench press? Or are they even comparable?

I never have a spotter and my bench is terrible and I have a hard time pushing harder when I’m not confident so I was wondering if floor press (db or barbell) might be something I could work with.[/quote]

Well, I did 40lb DBs for reps. I would maybe do equivalent reps with 115 or so (guesstimate?) for a full bench with a reasonable pause. I was thinking of not trying them because I figured they would work my triceps a lot and I need to work my chest and shoulders, but I could actually feel the work in my chest. After I test my raw bench max, coach and I will probably discuss my weaknesses and see whether these might assist.

My floor press stroke ends up being around 3" shorter than my full bench stroke (another rough guess).

My left arm would typically fail on the 7th or 8th rep, and I would have to dodge my head out of the way so as to preserve my cute nose and glorious cheekbones.

Check Marudermeat’s log in the +35 Lifter - he has some videos of his floor pressing and might be able to give you some pointers.

I pretty much think - hell, everything is worth a shot, right?

382

[quote]pushmepullme wrote:
No spotter, so it was play upper body tonight. I also had to have a quick workout so I could get home in time for the Duke game. :stuck_out_tongue:

Clap pushups - 8, 7, 6
BB rows - 3x8x135
Push press - 3x85, 10x65, 3x8x65. These felt heavier than last time, I’m not sure why.
Floor press - 3x8x40lbs DBs

This was my first time with the floor press. They were fun, a little awkward. I found myself trying to curl into a bit of an arch. Is this okay, anyone?

Short workout, but I got a burn in my chest and shoulders, which was the goal.

I’ve decided to do my next two meets raw (with knee sleeves). Hurrah![/quote]

I try to arch a bit floor pressing with a barbell but it’s more to try and grip the floor with my body. I’ve gotten pinned under these a few times at home. My 13 year old daughter has rescued me. I find it harder getting pinned by these than regular bench because my elbows are stapled down. Good times

383

[quote]pushmepullme wrote:
Well, I did 40lb DBs for reps. I would maybe do equivalent reps with 115 or so (guesstimate?) for a full bench with a reasonable pause. I was thinking of not trying them because I figured they would work my triceps a lot and I need to work my chest and shoulders, but I could actually feel the work in my chest. After I test my raw bench max, coach and I will probably discuss my weaknesses and see whether these might assist.

My floor press stroke ends up being around 3" shorter than my full bench stroke (another rough guess).

My left arm would typically fail on the 7th or 8th rep, and I would have to dodge my head out of the way so as to preserve my cute nose and glorious cheekbones.

Check Marudermeat’s log in the +35 Lifter - he has some videos of his floor pressing and might be able to give you some pointers.

I pretty much think - hell, everything is worth a shot, right?[/quote]

Absolutely! Thank you for the info. I will give them a try.

384

[quote]ouroboro_s wrote:
pushmepullme wrote:
No spotter, so it was play upper body tonight. I also had to have a quick workout so I could get home in time for the Duke game. :stuck_out_tongue:

Clap pushups - 8, 7, 6
BB rows - 3x8x135
Push press - 3x85, 10x65, 3x8x65. These felt heavier than last time, I’m not sure why.
Floor press - 3x8x40lbs DBs

This was my first time with the floor press. They were fun, a little awkward. I found myself trying to curl into a bit of an arch. Is this okay, anyone?

Short workout, but I got a burn in my chest and shoulders, which was the goal.

I’ve decided to do my next two meets raw (with knee sleeves). Hurrah!

I try to arch a bit floor pressing with a barbell but it’s more to try and grip the floor with my body. I’ve gotten pinned under these a few times at home. My 13 year old daughter has rescued me. I find it harder getting pinned by these than regular bench because my elbows are stapled down. Good times
[/quote]

When I do floor pressing at home, I put a couple of boxes under where the plates will land. The boxes are just high enough that there’s about an inch clearance with my elbows on the floor and long enough that I can push my fists towards my feet and land the weights on them if I miss the lift.

Pardon the uninvited interjection.

385

[quote]skidmark wrote:

Pardon the uninvited interjection.[/quote]

If I waited until I was invited I’d never go anywhere.

I’m lucky enough to have a power rack in my garage. so for floor presses, I just put the pins slightly lower than where my elbows tough the floor.

Debra,
For bench, I do something similar as with floor press. I set up the pins so that with an arch the bar touches my chest about ~1" above the pins. So if I get stapled, then I collapse my arch and the bar hits the pins. Then I curse as I wiggle my way from underneath.

You could set up something similar in a gym with a movable bench in the power rack. you just need to play around to get it right.

386

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday:

Box squat: Box was 11" from the floor. 3x135, 4x5x185

Deadlift from a 1-board - 3x135, 5x135, 2x3x185. I brought a couple of 2x12 pieces into the gym to stand on. I chalked the bottoms, but they still slipped. Our plates have holes and don’t work for standing on them. I need to figure something out for these sorts of DLs. I don’t want to bring a big piece of wood in because it would have to be massive to fit my stance…

Rack pulls: 5x225, 10x1x315, from just about the kneecap

Glute Hams 6x6

Planks with 70 lbs - 60, 30, 30

387

[quote]pushmepullme wrote:
I brought a couple of 2x12 pieces into the gym to stand on. I chalked the bottoms, but they still slipped. Our plates have holes and don’t work for standing on them. I need to figure something out for these sorts of DLs. I don’t want to bring a big piece of wood in because it would have to be massive to fit my stance…
[/quote]

Not sure just how wide your stance is, but I use the aerobics base thingy. I know it’s higher than what you’re using, but just a thought if you have them. They manage to stay in place at least on our floor which is kinda rubbery. I’m pretty sure I’ve pulled sumo on them as well… however I am blonde, so I may have still been pulling conventional when I did them.

388

[quote]Court wrote:
pushmepullme wrote:
I brought a couple of 2x12 pieces into the gym to stand on. I chalked the bottoms, but they still slipped. Our plates have holes and don’t work for standing on them. I need to figure something out for these sorts of DLs. I don’t want to bring a big piece of wood in because it would have to be massive to fit my stance…

Not sure just how wide your stance is, but I use the aerobics base thingy. I know it’s higher than what you’re using, but just a thought if you have them. They manage to stay in place at least on our floor which is kinda rubbery. I’m pretty sure I’ve pulled sumo on them as well… however I am blonde, so I may have still been pulling conventional when I did them. [/quote]

Yeah, I looked at those, I think they are too narrow. I didn’t actually try it out because I wasn’t sure if they can handle my weight + the DL weight, and I am clumsy enough as is.

I have a perfect circle shaped bruise on my left thigh from running into the Smith machine bar yesterday.

389

Quick update - I’ve done a bit of cardio, nothing exciting, and I haven’t made it into the gym for upper body/max benching. I’ll do it tonight, spotter or no spotter!

I found out that one of the gym employees is a PLer with NASA, so I might bug him for a spot/liftoff. At least he will have an idea of what to do…

My husband is flying to North Carolina today to watch the first, maybe second rounds of the NCAA Tournament. He went to Binghamton University, and loves Duke basketball (after meeting Grant Hill and Bobby Hurley when he was a kid). They are playing one another in the first round. He’s going to wear his Duke shorts and a Binghamton t-shirt.

He’s thrilled. The best part about the whole trip, is now I have leverage to shut him up about me going to Raw Nationals in July. :smiley:

Oh! Other fun news - I got an email from Priscilla Ribic that I’m one of the alternates for the IPF Open Worlds, held this year in November in India. No way can I go, and my weight class is full already anyway, but how cool is that?

390

WOW! I bet you were honored, none the less though!!
That IS really cool!

remind me again, the Nationals are in VA, correct?
I really want to keep my schedule open to come see!!!(as if I really have a schedule, who am I kidding? LOL!)

391

[quote]mom-in-MD wrote:
WOW! I bet you were honored, none the less though!!
That IS really cool!

remind me again, the Nationals are in VA, correct?
I really want to keep my schedule open to come see!!!(as if I really have a schedule, who am I kidding? LOL!)[/quote]

Yep, Charlottesville. I think I would be lifting on Friday, somewhere around the 25th? I’m not quite sure yet.

392

[quote]pushmepullme wrote:
Quick update - I’ve done a bit of cardio, nothing exciting, and I haven’t made it into the gym for upper body/max benching. I’ll do it tonight, spotter or no spotter!

I found out that one of the gym employees is a PLer with NASA, so I might bug him for a spot/liftoff. At least he will have an idea of what to do…

My husband is flying to North Carolina today to watch the first, maybe second rounds of the NCAA Tournament. He went to Binghamton University, and loves Duke basketball (after meeting Grant Hill and Bobby Hurley when he was a kid). They are playing one another in the first round. He’s going to wear his Duke shorts and a Binghamton t-shirt.

He’s thrilled. The best part about the whole trip, is now I have leverage to shut him up about me going to Raw Nationals in July. :smiley:

Oh! Other fun news - I got an email from Priscilla Ribic that I’m one of the alternates for the IPF Open Worlds, held this year in November in India. No way can I go, and my weight class is full already anyway, but how cool is that?[/quote]

Okay first of all hearing PL with NASA totally gives me a hard on, woman or not. There is just so much coolness in that list of acronyms. A power lifting astronaut. Okay maybe he isn’t an astronaut but it’s still fucking cool. Tell him there’s a Cdn woman that has a crush on him based on that.

You must be over the moon to get that email from PR. That is super exciting. Who knows what will happen between now and then. Your weight class may be full but people drop out for a variety of reasons.

393

[quote]ouroboro_s wrote:
pushmepullme wrote:
Quick update - I’ve done a bit of cardio, nothing exciting, and I haven’t made it into the gym for upper body/max benching. I’ll do it tonight, spotter or no spotter!

I found out that one of the gym employees is a PLer with NASA, so I might bug him for a spot/liftoff. At least he will have an idea of what to do…

My husband is flying to North Carolina today to watch the first, maybe second rounds of the NCAA Tournament. He went to Binghamton University, and loves Duke basketball (after meeting Grant Hill and Bobby Hurley when he was a kid). They are playing one another in the first round. He’s going to wear his Duke shorts and a Binghamton t-shirt.

He’s thrilled. The best part about the whole trip, is now I have leverage to shut him up about me going to Raw Nationals in July. :smiley:

Oh! Other fun news - I got an email from Priscilla Ribic that I’m one of the alternates for the IPF Open Worlds, held this year in November in India. No way can I go, and my weight class is full already anyway, but how cool is that?

Okay first of all hearing PL with NASA totally gives me a hard on, woman or not. There is just so much coolness in that list of acronyms. A power lifting astronaut. Okay maybe he isn’t an astronaut but it’s still fucking cool. Tell him there’s a Cdn woman that has a crush on him based on that.

You must be over the moon to get that email from PR. That is super exciting. Who knows what will happen between now and then. Your weight class may be full but people drop out for a variety of reasons.
[/quote]

Yeah, I already declined. I might have been able to go as a light 82.5 kg lifter, but I really can’t afford the $3000 to get over there, nor do I have a week of vacation.

This year. :wink:

394


Well, this morning I woke up with a sharp pain in my lower trap area, as illustrated. It hurts the most when I take a deep breath. If it doesn’t work itself out soon, I’ll probably go see my chiro.

Anyway, that wasn’t enough to stop me from my benching day, finally. No real spotter, and I got up to a single at 155 alone, my own liftoff, paused, no problem at all. I got one of the gym dudes to give me a liftoff/spot for 165 (my prior raw PR), and it felt great but he took it from me a few inches off the chest. I think he was nervous. I didn’t attempt it again because my back was sore.

Then:

bench @ 125 - 6, 5, 6, 5

Blue tube pullups - 6, 6, 5, 4 - WTF? These felt waaay hard

Lateral raises - 3x10x15lb DBs

Rows - 105 lbs for 20, 20, and 15

Rear delt raises - 15lb DBs for 12, 12, 10

Triceps extensions with 20lb DB - 12, 10, 10

Hammer curls - 25lb DBs - 9, 8

Hanging leg raises with straight legs - 3x10

My left side was WAY weak on the extensions and curls. Ugh.

395

You got a foam roller, or a couple tennis balls you can tape together? Try out the back extension in the warm up outlined in one of the new articles:

And make sure you’re not slouching at your desk. Head up, and back straight. Hope you feel better soon. :slight_smile:

396

[quote]Doug Adams wrote:
You got a foam roller, or a couple tennis balls you can tape together? Try out the back extension in the warm up outlined in one of the new articles:

And make sure you’re not slouching at your desk. Head up, and back straight. Hope you feel better soon. :-)[/quote]

Yeah, slouching aches. I’ve always been pretty anal about my posture.

Hey! That’s what I did last night, without even reading that article! I must be psychic.

If weren’t busy at work, I’d call in today (plus, calling in for physical pain is for weenies). It’s owie!

397

Playing Rock Band 2 online with WolBarret seemed to work out my trap pain. I think it was mostly stress up there.

So I took my ref practical yesterday at a local meet. It was actually almost fun, watching everyone lift, instead of worrying about my own lifts.

I highly recommend it.

Squats later today. I’ll probably make it a full body fun time, just to get some gym time in. Tomorrow night, I am probably going to drive to Oklahoma with my older brother. Our grandmother passed away on Friday afternoon and the service is Tuesday. There are literally no flights under $700 so that means a 14 hour drive each way.

398

[quote]pushmepullme wrote:
Well, this morning I woke up with a sharp pain in my lower trap area, as illustrated. It hurts the most when I take a deep breath. If it doesn’t work itself out soon, I’ll probably go see my chiro.

Anyway, that wasn’t enough to stop me from my benching day, finally. No real spotter, and I got up to a single at 155 alone, my own liftoff, paused, no problem at all. I got one of the gym dudes to give me a liftoff/spot for 165 (my prior raw PR), and it felt great but he took it from me a few inches off the chest. I think he was nervous. I didn’t attempt it again because my back was sore.

Then:

bench @ 125 - 6, 5, 6, 5

Blue tube pullups - 6, 6, 5, 4 - WTF? These felt waaay hard

Lateral raises - 3x10x15lb DBs

Rows - 105 lbs for 20, 20, and 15

Rear delt raises - 15lb DBs for 12, 12, 10

Triceps extensions with 20lb DB - 12, 10, 10

Hammer curls - 25lb DBs - 9, 8

Hanging leg raises with straight legs - 3x10

My left side was WAY weak on the extensions and curls. Ugh.[/quote]

Nice work, great to be hitting the numbers you are shooting for…even with pain.

399

420×560 45.7 KB

Squats and whatnot today:

I crushed my hand and have a bit of a wound. Don’t ask. The band-aid wouldn’t stay on, so I cleaned the wound with the gym’s moist towlettes and put chalk in it. I am disgusting.

Squats: 5x135, 3x185, 10x205 (belted); 2x10x225

Deadlifts from platform: 5x135, 5x1x225 from 2x12; 3x5x135 from jazzercise step. The extra inch really kills me on these. I feel very scared that my foot is going to slip out and I’ll end up with a broken leg or something.

Barbell rows: 5x6x155

Good mornings: 3x8x135

I didn’t do upper body stuff like I’d planned. I was moving slowly, and that wound messed up my grip pretty good.

I couldn’t squat with my thumb wrapped around the bar, so I played around with doing it unwrapped. The bar didn’t slide down my back, but I don’t know - the weights were light.

400

[quote]pushmepullme wrote:
I crushed my hand and have a bit of a wound. Don’t ask. The band-aid wouldn’t stay on, so I cleaned the wound with the gym’s moist towlettes and put chalk in it. I am disgusting.

[/quote]

That’s not disgusting at all… one of the men competing at the meet yesterday got scraped by someone’s nail when they were pulling up his deadlift suit. He had cuts on his left shoulder and right bicep. They covered both in chalk, but he was still oozing blood.

Chalk fixes everything.
Have a cut? Put chalk on it. Ripped a callous? Put chalk on it. Have a headache? Put chalk on it.

Okay, so I don’t know about the last one, but the first two for sure.