Tokman thanks but after spending some time on T-mag I have a different perspective. I feel strong at Fitness First but not compared to the Goldbergs and Big Martins of the world!
I’d be happy if my lifts were as big as Stubobs but thats not going to be for a while yet.
you guys sound pretty enthusiastic about westside. i know this sounds lame but it sounds damn complicated and also hard to implement without a training partner. am i way off the mark here?
nah bike you aren’t that far off the mark. Reading the articles seems to make westside more complicated and the classic case of analysis paralysis sets in. That’s why i always reccomend:
as the main text to read for a template, it takes a long time to build up to the level of training that the articles suggest and I found that i can’t do more than 4 big exercises every session without burning out (along with my sports).
STU
Bikeboy
I’d agree with Dr.Stu, its not as bad as it looks. Eventually you get to grips with the system and can alter it as you need.
There are ways around not having a training partner and the single most important piece of equipment you can have is a power rack.
Without it you will need a partner.
I don’t have a partner or a power rack whaah. i just adapted things to suit myself at my gym. I have said before on other threads,everyone at my gym thinks i’m mad.When i use the chains, i get comments about chain gang and stuff.It does not bother me though, i just get onwith it.I have made a board that fits onto the safety pins of the squat rack and use it for reverse hypers.
Nobby
Creed: I know what you mean about that. I’m quite lucky to have a decent gym nearby. There are plenty of people a LOT stronger than me. The last few weeks I’ve trained with a South African guy who squats 350kg 
It’s very motivating training around people like that.
Adamski, is he one of those boer?
When I was out in SA last autumn I met quite a few of them and they are gentically fucking huge but usely very nice people but wouldn’t want to piss them off!
STU
Bikeboy - If you need any help sorting things out then all you have to do is ask.
Creed - Before getting my numbers I’d never really pushed for a 1RM before. I was messing around with BB too much. After a visit to Beni I caught the Westside bug and now as Justin would say “I’m lovin it”…haha…
I set myself a goal of squatting 200kg by the new year. I did it on Monday just gone so I didn’t really succeed with my goals but I managed to do it at the end of the first Westside cycle.
All you have to do is set goals and strive for them. My assistant lifts have gone up well. I’d never done Good Mornings before Westside and now I can do about 140kg for 1. Hopefully this will increase on my next cycle, but that’s not bad in 9 weeks.
Adamski - What way are you training now? Why not Westside if you are trying to get to 200kg?
I sound like I’m in a cult constantly espousing the merits of Westside but it is the best program I’ve used.
Cheers
Stu
To recap then…
Stubob - Bath - Westsider
bikeboy - Hull - not Westsiding - but might start ;0)
DrSTU - Leeds - Westsider
Beni - Birmingham - Westside Guru
Tokman - Liverpool - Soon to be a Westsider
NoMojoPin - South East - Ex Westsider
Nobby - Leicester - Westsider
Bonzo - Swindon - Westsider
creed - ??? - Westsider
Adamski - ??? - Former Westsider
hhmmmmmm I see a pattern emerging here…
What say we try and meet up for something, don’t know where though…
Perhaps some powerlifting event… I don’t know…??
Any ideas…?
Stubob
thanks for the help guys. i will do my homework on westside and would like to give it a go after i have finished my current training program.
bikeboy
DrSTU, dunno what he is, he’s pretty short, but WIDE… very strong guy.
Stubob, I’m training with the big big guy I mentioned at the moment, non-westside powerlifting stuff, I’ve only been training less than a year, so I’m not worried about getting too technical just now. I tried westside for a little while and liked it though, I’m sure I’ll go back to it soon.
By the way, I train in Windsor.
Stubob
FYI i’m in Basingstoke. Hey Adamski you’re pretty close but you’re SA mate sounds weak as a kitten!! 350kg Phah!
Well, you might as well count me in. I live near Stamford, Lincs but originally from Yorkshire. I train at work and at one of the only real gyms in Peterborough (real as one might expect from no GHR or Reverse hyper).
I’ve been training darkside for a few years and follow the basic 4-day template with added sled dragging on off days to puzzle the dog walkers and to keep me from digging holes with my bare hands.
Haha, Adamski of England made it into this weeks reader mail! Still waiting on my T-Shirt though 
I’m the skinny guy near the bottom…
sweet, now we have a face to the name!!!
don’t worry about the t-shirt, TC sent me a box full last year ad if they say it’s on the way then it is.
since no one has posted on this thread in a little while, what sort of progress has everyone made sonce their last post.
me i’ve lost 7lbs of fat and got back into deadlifting, got 160 for 5 the otherday on my first day back and wanna make sure that that becomes 180kg within 3 months, mind you the ketogenic diet is working a treat for me, t-dawg 2 rocks.
STU
Well, it’s more of a blurring mosaic than a face… The shirt actually arrived this morning.
Nice dead DrSTU!
I’m actually dieting at the moment too, haven’t weighed myself for a while though, but looking leaner. Just got back from the gym, got 140kg x 8 for 2 sets on deads. Back was so pumped after those two I had to drop a bit of weight.
Training more BB style at the moment. Once I’m leaner I’ll be powerlifting for the rest of the year.
Hello chaps…
Things are going well with my training. I’ve got a bit of a cold and sore throat at the moment but I’m still managing to train through it.
I did Sumo Deadlift last night for my ME movement, managed to get 170kg for 1, tried 180kg but couldn’t get it very far off of the ground, still that’s a pr for me. I haven’t done Sumo style for ME before.
Apart from that everything is cool. I’m fast approaching 30 but I’m stronger and fitter than ever before so that’s cool…
Cheers
Stubob
Well strangely, I’ve put on more weight doing westside than in any period before doing bb training. Probably because I’m pushing myself a lot harder and actually working my posterior chain like hell. I should be doing my maxes tomorrow after getting to week 9 of the 8 key program.
Now this may seem like a stupid question to everyone, but what set and rep range should I use to work up to test a max lift. Is a few singles the best bet or what? Stretching? Just wanted to get the best possible results really.
Cheers
Joe.
I’m no expert Bonzo but I’ll tell you how I did it…
I warmed up the assistant muscle groups for each lift. For example when doing the Bench I warmed up the shoulders, tri’s and bi’s.
I then just started with the bar and then just went up in 20Kg increments. I did 10 reps on the bar then 8reps on 40kg and so on.
When I could no longer do 3 reps comfortably I then went down to 1rep.
Hope that helps…
And post your numbers once you’re done…
Stubob