Formerly somewhat active in these forums. I will eventually edit this header post to link some old logs, maybe.
Quick summary is, I was once kinda strong (515-425-625 @200), Buf since then I’ve torn my ACL and have had complications with the knee for 3 years or so (nerve damage, degenerative cartilage, etc)I’ve been up and down in training, but mostly down. I’m in the worst shapeof my life, heaviest I’ve ever been, and weakest I’ve been since… well I don’t know, left leg is functioning at around 20% strength.
I no longer want to use the knee as an excuse, just going to see where I can get on 1 and 1/2 pegs. My goal is a Powerlifting meet 12-18 months from now, at ~200 pounds (dunno what the weight classes are anymore). I’m starting the year out at 260.
Dumbbell bench press
40s x 15
50s x 15
60s x 15
70s x 15
75s x 12 (yuck)
Superset, 4 rounds
A: DB pec fly
20s x 10
B: EZ Bar skullcrushers
40 x 25
Superset, 4 rounds
A: TRX push ups x 10
B: overhead kettlebell tricep ext x 10
Tricep cable push down, single arm
No rest, 100 reps each (sets of 25,25,20,15,10,5)
Machine chest press
45 x 25 x 4
Pretty fast pace/tempo. This is still cardio/workload training. Man am I weak, I’m lookin back at old PRs, I’ve pressed 200# DBs for the reps I got at 75 today.
Assisted chin ups
(Weight listed is the net resistance)
85 x 10
100 x 10
115 x 10
130 x 10
145 x 10
160 x 10
175 x 8 (yuck!)
Superset
A: Lat pull down machine
B: row machine
Same weights reps each: 35,45,55,66,75 x 15
DB Reverse fly
15s x 15 x 4
Ez bar curls
30,40,50,50 x 15
Some shoulder int/ext rotations in between sets
Cable rows
55 x 10
70 x 10
85 x 10
100 x 10
120 x 10
Slightly slower pace today. Still fast. I’m looking forward to when these comparatively AWFUL numbers are behind me. It’s depressing on one hand and motivating on the other.
Leg press - single leg (bum knee)
Worked up in 20-25# increments, set of 15 to 5.5 plates (368) for 15
Hip AB/AD superset, 5 sets of 20 each
Single leg extension negatives
25 x 10 x 3
35 x 10
40 x 10 (hard)
Bilateral leg curl x a bunch (didn’t count, high vol low weight)
I believe this is my best single leg press set since the injury, so that’s interesting. Then again, knee rehab is the only thing I’ve been consistent on since then also. Pace was a bit slower but today is more rehab than the previous work capacity/cardio days.
I take a few personal training clients on the side, and one of the guys I’m working with, I have him set up for legs on fridays. I jump in with him. It will end up being bilateral volume work for me, and eventually Tuesday’s will become my “heavy” leg day.
My program will look something like this next week:
Monday: 5/3/1 bench day
Tuesday: knee rehab turned leg day. Won’t be real structured initially.
Wednesday: back/bi day. Chin up focus to start. I’m appalled at my numbers here, and I’ve had best results for back as a designated day in the past.
Thursday: conditioning, re/prehab, light shoulders (I also have a torn up shoulder and an abdominal surgery that made those guys finicky)
Friday: leg day, the very first day in this log, and tomorrow’s post
Leg press - bilateral
Worked up in sets of 15 to 681 x 15
Lots of sets
Hex bar DL
Worked up in sets of 6s to 305 x 6
Machine circuit x 4 rounds
Leg curl bilateral x 20
Leg extension bilateral x 20
Calf raise x 20
I think deadlift variations are going to be easier to push right now. I have a yoke bar in my garage gym but I didn’t bother winterizing/heating it this year. I don’t think I’d be comfortable pushing barbell squats yet.
Overall a nice first week, hopefully I can keep momentum through next week, as I have some other health issues that will cost me at least one session.
Skullcrushers x 20 superset with DB flies x 10, 4 rounds
Tricep rope push downs single arm 15x4 each
3 sets of cable crossovers
Yikes. Thought I was setting a training max nice and low (310), I’m going to lower it to 295. Less than 70% of my PR. Of note though, I’ve been fasting for about 13 hours at the time of this workout, procedure tomorrow. I very much doubt I’ll be lifting tomorrow but if I can I will. If not I’m considering 2adays this week. We will see.
Deadlift, conventional, ACL brace
95 x 6
145 x 3
185 x 3
235 x 3
275 x 3
305 x 3
335 x 3 (mixed grip)
355 x 3 (slight twinge in hammy)
375 x 3
Assisted Chins, wide grip, overhand
20 x 5, 18 x 5, 16 x 5, 14 x 5, 12 x 5, 10 x 5
8 x 3 (40# assistance, 255 bw and clothes = 215 pulled)
Rear delt flies, 20s x 12 x 4
Superset with
EZ bar curls, 40 x 15 x 4
Lat pulldowns, cables, wide grip
Lowish weight, big squeeze at the bottom
60 x 10, 72 x 10
84 x 8, 96 x 8, 108 x 8
No squeeze, fast tempo, 15 sec between sets
72 x 8 x 7
The goal today was ballpark a DL and assisted Chins training max. Secondary goal of finding a stance and which knee sleeve/brace/wrap worked best. I think I’ll spread it out over a few weeks here before I structure the programming too much. Pulled sumo in my prime (615 Pr) but either the platform or my shoes were slippery so I went Conv. I didn’t dare go higher than 375, not confident in the knee. I want to work high volume low rep in the 250-335 range for now. Will try the elitefts heavy knee sleeve next DL session.
For chins, I went wide because that’s where I’ve always been weaker anyways, may as well work em up from there, for now anyways.
Of note: more for my reference than anything I guess. I have some tailbone pain that I and my primary physician guess is tied to my knee surgery. I had a gracilis/semitendinosus graft taken from the insertion (near knee) and the pain is forming around where that muscles origin is (hip/tailbone)
So on top of assuming “hammy twinge” is on the involved leg (left), I also had some hip… discomfort? I don’t know how to name it, but that’s also why I shut er down at 375.
I intend to see my physical therapist soon about the knee/hip, and run my programming plan by him as well.
Arnold press
25s x 8, 30s x 8, 30s x 8, 45s x 8, 50s x 8, 55s x 8, 60s x 8
(35s and 40s taken)
Some other light shoulder health stuff
Some abs:
15 med ball crunch’s
30s front plank
10 med ball crunch’s
30s side plank
10 med ball crunch’s
30s other side plank
So. While my knee was still the limiting factor in the 1.5 mile time, this was considerably challenging for the garbage cardiovascular shape I’m in. My goal is going to be to improve that time every single week. My PR for. 2 mile is 11:44, I think that time for 1.5m can be my year long goal. For now I can only jog a couple minutes at a time, which was more than I expected for today, so that’s good.
As bad as my cardio/strength are, my core may be worse. Getting some cramps from that super light work. I think I’m going to do a small amount of abs daily rather than this.
Leg press
Worked up to ~6 plates per side, felt a big click on the 3rd rep, shut er down. Knee was slow to warm up on these today
Hex bar DL
More warmups
275 x 6 x 3
275 x 12
Bulgarian split squats
5s x 5 each x 2
10s x 5 each x 2
Leg curls, light, bilateral
A ton
Exercise ball side crunches
15 each way x 2
Front planks
30s x 4
Knee was angry today, which makes sense. Yesterday was the first running I’ve done. Not a concerning level of pain, but worth takin it easy today.
A nice positive though, ran my PT client through split squats and to my surprise, I can do them. I don’t feel them in my quad much but it’s another thing I can work on now.
Also, I aggressively golf ball rolled whatever tissue it is that’s bothering me in the tailbone: sacrotuberal ligament, glute origin, lumbodorsal fascia, I don’t know. It seems to have helped moderately.
Tried some free barbell squats. Unable to not lean considerably to the good leg. No sense working these for a few months
DB split squats
12.5 x 5 each x 2
15 x 5 each
17.5 x 5 each
Free motion legpress
Worked up to 5 plates per side x 30
Leg Circuit: 4ish rounds
A: lying leg curl x 15
B: leg ext: 10 bilateral concentric, left leg eccentric, 5 single leg full rep
C: free motion squat x 10
An circuit: 3 rounds
A: band crunch x 20
B: exercise ball crunch x 10-15
C: plank 30s (front, side, side
Missed yesterday due to the holiday, so order of work outs is off, no biggy.
Circuit 2 (20s)
A: Db flies x 10 x 3
B: rev flies x 12 x 3
Circuit 3 (50)
A: EZ bar curls x 12 x 4
B: EZ bar skulls x 25 x 4
Circuit 4
A; cable lat pulldowns, wide
35x20, 42.5x15, 50x12, 60x8, 70x6
B: 4/2/- tempo push ups. 5x5
Just winging it today, missed the bulk of this week due to health. Short time today between clinic and work, feel like shit but glad I got something in.
Edit: beginning body weight tracking. Start of log was 260. 249.6 today
Quick treadmill warmup
1.5 mile 22:44
Including a continuous 1/3rd mile
Bench: wide grip, incline, Smith machine
Bottom 3/4 (no lock out, fast)
50, 70, 90, 110 x 15
130 x 10
150 x 9
160 x 8
Circuit 1
A: TRX pec fly x 10
B: single arm band tricep ext x 20 each
4 rounds
Circuit 2
A: TRX push up x 12
B: kettlebell overhead tricep ext 12kg x 20
3 rounds
Single leg ext (bum knee)
Full rom
10 x 15 x 2
15, 20, 25, 30 x 15
35 x 15 x 4
40 x 25 x 2
AB circuit
A: crunch machine: upper abs x 12
B: hanging leg raise, with twist, bent knees x 12
C: 40s plank (one each front, side, side)
3 rounds
I hate smith machine pressing, but this variant was kinda okay. Weights don’t include the bar, whatever that is.
The rest was a chest/tri day, but this be decided I want cardio abs and single leg work every day for a while. Not terribly certain how programming will look, winging it.