A good friend of mine started working out with me on Wednesday. I offered to get him going with SS. I even offered the machine equivalent exercises that would at least get him going in the right direction. He chose to do arms. Lots of arm work. Perhaps today he will do chest. Oh well, to each their own.
Today’s Training
military press
5x155
5x155
5x155
back squat, no belt
5x205
8x205
6x275
8x275
clean
3x195
3x195
3x195
pull-ups
8xbw
4xbw
bw = 244
changed the workout up a little. I went into it with the plan of greatly reducing the weight and really working on my front squat form. I was able to have a spotter, so I did some back squats. It wasn’t a struggle and I plan on trying them again on Friday. Beltless at that. Cleans were a beast. I’m going to drop back to 185 or 190 next time.
I’m already making plans for my transition into a less stressful program. I’m looking into the Texas Method - the next logical step after SS.
[quote]darwin420 wrote:
Awesome job on the deads, Dude! I have no doubt you’ll hit 450 this year.
My wife is kind of the same way with my goals. I tell her I want to get as large as my genetics will allow, while remaining aesthetically balanced. She doesn’t get it, and has expressed how she doesn’t think she’ll find that level of “buffness” as attractive. I think it’s something pretty much every married man who lifts has to deal with. 
Keep up the great progress![/quote]
I just dont get it Darwin. Your doing something extremely positive for yourself and she’s trying to bring ya down… whats wrong with being buff, strong, and healthy? The alternative is being overweight, lazy, and fat, which last time I checked wasnt exactly a big turn-on for most women.
[quote]BigKDawg wrote:
darwin420 wrote:
Awesome job on the deads, Dude! I have no doubt you’ll hit 450 this year.
My wife is kind of the same way with my goals. I tell her I want to get as large as my genetics will allow, while remaining aesthetically balanced. She doesn’t get it, and has expressed how she doesn’t think she’ll find that level of “buffness” as attractive. I think it’s something pretty much every married man who lifts has to deal with.
Keep up the great progress!
I just dont get it Darwin. Your doing something extremely positive for yourself and she’s trying to bring ya down… whats wrong with being buff, strong, and healthy? The alternative is being overweight, lazy, and fat, which last time I checked wasnt exactly a big turn-on for most women.[/quote]
I think her issue is my wanting to by BIG. Don’t get me wrong, she likes the muscle I’ve been building, and I think she’d be quite happy with a more “sleek” me. She doesn’t oppose me lifting and “getting into shape,” but the whole 47" chest with 17" arms, I think is what gets to her.
(sorry to hijack the thread, dude)
haha my mom is the same way.
at least i still dont have a gf/wife so ill be sure when i get one she’ll like me. though i wont be hyooooooooge.
Chris Shugart talked about this in one of his articles. i found it kinda interesting.
just remember what he says in the end… it doesnt mean that all people are like that.
[quote]lordstorm88 wrote:
haha my mom is the same way.
at least i still dont have a gf/wife so ill be sure when i get one she’ll like me. though i wont be hyooooooooge.
Chris Shugart talked about this in one of his articles. i found it kinda interesting.
just remember what he says in the end… it doesnt mean that all people are like that.
http://www.T-Nation.com/article/features/its_sabotage&cr=[/quote]
Great article, and I do know people like that, but my wife ain’t one of em. She’s supportive of my goals, and has even starting lifting and eating right for herself. She just thinks I’m crazy for wanting to get as big as I do.
Today’s Training
bench press
5x240
5x240
5x240
squat
no today, will do tomorrow
deadlift, no belt
2x375
3x375, with straps
dips
8xbw+50
8xbw+25
Good workout overall. My schedule is a bit funky this week (missing Wednesday), so I’m doubling up. Tomorrow I will do squats.
Bench felt good.
Deadlifts were difficult. I think I was pulling more from my back than my glutes/hamstrings. I also finally switched grips to alternating. I pulled the first two reps without slipping. I had to use straps because my calluses were on the verge of tearing. At least that’s what it felt like. I should invest in some chalk.
Dips. I thought I could at least match what I did last time. Not so. I’m going to drop down to 25-35 lbs and do steady increments.
[quote]darwin420 wrote:
Great article, and I do know people like that, but my wife ain’t one of em. She’s supportive of my goals, and has even starting lifting and eating right for herself. She just thinks I’m crazy for wanting to get as big as I do. [/quote]
I know, I know. Preaching to the choir. There is a great difference between what women (ours at least) find attractive and what we, dare I say, find attractive. No ghey. NTTAWWT. You know what I mean. You (and I) have visualized what an ideal physique will look like, strive to get there, and it isn’t what they envision.
[quote]jdarkraget wrote:
TheDudeAbides wrote:
I also don’t have a training partner.
I know what its like man. Im a little hesitant to do any heavy benching based on the fact I may die. Keep up the progress.
HARDWORK=RESULTS
[/quote]
What bout weighted dips? No spotter needed and depending on how you do it can be a very effective chest movement.
[quote]TheDudeAbides wrote:
darwin420 wrote:
Great article, and I do know people like that, but my wife ain’t one of em. She’s supportive of my goals, and has even starting lifting and eating right for herself. She just thinks I’m crazy for wanting to get as big as I do.
I know, I know. Preaching to the choir. There is a great difference between what women (ours at least) find attractive and what we, dare I say, find attractive. No ghey. NTTAWWT. You know what I mean. You (and I) have visualized what an ideal physique will look like, strive to get there, and it isn’t what they envision.[/quote]
Amen. Considering that my goal includes remaining aesthetically balanced, I think she’ll change her tune in the end.
Today’s Training
military press
5x160
5x160
5x160
back squat
5x295
5x295
10x295
clean
3x155
pull-ups
will do them tomorrow
Today … was difficult. I was more tired than I thought I would be after yesterday. Two workouts in a row are not a good idea. The good thing is that I get the next two days off.
Military was solid. I don’t know what it is about my warm-ups, but they always seem more difficult than my actual working sets. Typically I do 135 several times in my ramp up. It always feels like a lot.
Back squat went real well. I expect these numbers to keep climbing. Now that I’m not worried about the supports getting in the way and that I can properly re-rack the bar, I’m giving up front squats. Partly because I want to do something different, and partly because my form is just not good on them - too much forward lean. I’m lacking flexibility somwhere - ankles or hips. The last set was tough. I wanted to see how much gas was left in the tank. Maybe two more reps. Maybe.
Cleans were just embarrassing. I was still panting from the squats, feeling weak all over. I decided to call it a day.
Glad to see you with the back squats, hopefully your previous issues dom’t hold you back on them!
Thanks Ryan. My previous issues were overrated. I didn’t think I would be able to re-rack the bar. Guess I was wrong.
Today’s Training
bench press
5x245
5x245
5x245
back squat, w/ belt
5x315
5x315
5x315
deadlift, w/ belt
4x385
dips
skipped
bw = 247
Wow. I ALMOST tweaked my lower back today. Almost. Way too close. The last deadlift rep I felt a twinge, whatever, in my lower back. I decided to call it a day right then and there. On the previous four reps, it felt like 4 near max singles - I need to reduce for the next several weeks and add reps instead of weight.
Bench went well. Hopefully I can surpass the last round of SS and get over 260 for reps.
Back squat. I had gas left in the tank. Maybe only a 10 lb increase for Monday.
I am eating more, so that is an obvious explanation of why I weigh more. The other explanation is that I gained more muscle. Pants/shorts still fit great. That is about the only measure/indicator I have, or use to track my fat loss/gain. I admit, I do look like a gorilla in the mirror. My wife is always right.
Try using a tape measure to keep track of your muscle gains and fat loss. That way if your waist goes down but your arms go up, you know you lost weight and gained arm mass.
Personally I am going to start measuring my dimensions once a week along with my body weight. That way I can see if I am losing weight and gaining muscle.
[quote]nikoa wrote:
Try using a tape measure to keep track of your muscle gains and fat loss. That way if your waist goes down but your arms go up, you know you lost weight and gained arm mass.
Personally I am going to start measuring my dimensions once a week along with my body weight. That way I can see if I am losing weight and gaining muscle.[/quote]
I second this motion. I’ve been keeping track of my measurements for the last 2 months, and it is a better gauge, I think. I’ve put on 1.5 lbs since getting off the Anabolic Diet, but have lost many inches everywhere on my body, and my body fat went down, to boot, which is cool, because it means I’ve succeeded in putting on LBM.
Good idea to stop after feeling the twinge. As a person with a long history of back problems, trust me when I say that you don’t want to deal with it. Take care of your back.
if your back hurts now or hurts agani when you try to deadlift during warming up i’d definitely go see a doctor.
its better to lose 2-3 weeks rather than 6 months
[quote]lordstorm88 wrote:
if your back hurts now or hurts agani when you try to deadlift during warming up i’d definitely go see a doctor.
its better to lose 2-3 weeks rather than 6 months[/quote]
I’ve had this before. I get lower back spasms fairly easily. Although I haven’t had one yet this year.
I’m going to lay off for the rest of this week, then start again next week. It felt like I was pulling 90% of my 1 RM.
Today’s Training
bench press
5xbar
5x135
5x205
5x225
5x245
5x255 PR
dips
13xbw
30 sec rest
5xbw
minute rest
7xbw
bw = 250(?)
Doing all upper body this week to prevent any further lower back stress. I’m treating this week as sort of a deload.
I forgot I just did BP on Friday. Oh well. I would have done a military ramp up. That can wait until tomorrow instead.
I’m also cutting back the calories all week. Goal is to lose a couple of pounds. Who knows. My pants still fit at the same belt loop that’s good. However, my wife mentioned on Sunday that my face was looking more full. Perhaps.
Still no power. We’ve been without it since Sunday afternoon. Camping at the in-laws … not ideal, but it will do.