The third weights workout of week 3 was as follows:
after a warm up of bodyweight exercise i did:
DB Split Squat (total 25 reps)
1st set: 26.4’s x 5
60 secs rest
2nd set: 26.4’s x 5
60 secs rest
3rd set: 26.4’s x 6
60 secs rest
4th set: 26.4’s x 6
60 secs rest
5th set: 26.4’s x 3
Notes- These were quite hard, my legs were really sore from lunges on wednesday. They were definately more taxing than the DB squats/front squats have been over the last few weeks. I tried to perform reps as quickly as possible safely, so i dont injure my knees.
Incline DB Bench (total 25 reps)
1st set: 26.4’s x 5
60 secs rest
2nd set: 26.4’s x 4
60 secs rest
3rd set: 26.4’s x 4
60 secs rest
4th set: 26.4’s x 3
60 secs rest
5th set: 26.4’s x 3
60 secs rest
6th set: 26.4’s x 2
60 secs rest
7th set: 26.4’s x 2
60 secs rest
8th set: 26.4’s x 2
Notes- these were really hard, getting the weights up into the start position is like doing a rep, especially towards the end. I was worried about injuring my shoulder having felt pain in it during the last session, but all reps/sets were performed pain free which is good. My shoulders and triceps were fatigued a lot after these, more so than my chest. I picked a weight which was heavier than last week slightly, which may explain why it took one more set to get to 25 reps. The weight was probably right, and next week i’ll use the same again and try to reduce the number of sets it takes to get to 25 reps whilst performing reps quicker.
Wide Grip Pull Ups (25 reps)
1st set: BW plus 4.9kg x 4
60 secs rest
2nd set: BW plus 4.9kg x 3
60 secs rest
3rd set: BW x 4
60 secs rest
4th set: BW x 4
60 secs rest
5th set: BW x 3
60 secs rest
6th set: BW x 2
60 secs rest
7th set: BW x 2
60 secs rest
8th set: BW x 2
60 secs rest
9th set: BW x 1
Notes - i chose perhaps too much weight for the first 2 sets which was probably responsible for the high number of sets it took to reach 25 reps. Next week i’ll try BW plus 2.5kg and see if i can get through all sets at this load. As for today, the reps were as fast as i could lift with good form.
Lying DB tricep extensions (25 reps)
1st set: 13.5’s x 5
30 secs rest
2nd set: 13.5’s x 3
30 secs rest
3rd set: 13.5’s x 3
30 secs rest
4th set: 13.5’s x 3
30 secs rest
5th set: 13.5’s x 2
30 secs rest
6th set: 11’s x 5
30 secs rest
7th set: 11’s x 4
Notes - these were really hard, 13.5’s are really heavy for me for this exercise. I had to change down to 11’s for the last couple sets as i was coming close to failure for 13.5’s. Still, i made a progression on last week, with strength increasing somewhat. Next week i’ll use 13.5’s again and try progress again, using it throughout all the sets.
1 leg calf raises (25 reps)
1st set: 28.7kg x 5
30 secs rest
2nd set: 28.7kg x 6
30 secs rest
3rd set: 28.7kg x 5
30 secs rest
4th set: 28.7kg x 5
30 secs rest
5th set: 28.7kg x 4
Notes - These were harder than last week, with the heavier load. The reps were performed slower though, with right leg technique not being as solid as the left. I’ll use the same weight again next week as with the other exercises and try to progress again.
Total session time: 53 mins.
Overall the session was good, i was sweating at the end a bit. I had no problems with my right shoulder which was good. I was really sore at the start of the session in my lower body, which was probably due to finally stressing my lower body significantly on wednesday, having changed to DB lunges. At the end though, my theory of exercise being the best cure for relieving soreness ( a similar session repeated a couple days after) seems to have been proven again, as now i am significantly less sore than i was before the session. As i said the session was good, next week i have to focus on increasing reps speed with the same loads in order to continue progression. I now have the weekend to rest and come back strong on monday.