Yeah you are the crazy dude around here, really great stuff going on here (and very very crazy)
@mortdk Much appreciated dude!
AM WORKOUT
(4) Texas deadlift bar touch and go mat pulls
5x135+chains
5x225+chains
3x315+chains
1x405+chains
DROPSET w/rest pause
7+3+3x505+chains
6+3+3x415+chains
Standing ab wheel
4x8
Car deadlift simulator
8x6plates
7x6plates
DROPSET
6x6plates
5x6plates
4x6plates
Dips
3x32
Notes: Playing around some more. Someone asked me the other day āHey, if your dropset/rest pause works so well for squats, why donāt you do it for deadlifts?ā And since deads have been pretty bad, I figured why not? Itās another version of awful for sure. My glute/hip is still in a bad way. Iāve taken a week to let it heal on itās own, so now itās time to do some rehab. Iāve been through this before, so it should go well.
Car deadlift keeps getting better, so I canāt get too upset. I keep hitting it under worse fatigue and it keeps growing. Also, I switched back to iron plates on the deadlift and it feels slightly better, so Iām just gonna ride that out.
Woke up at 197.4, but had some real bad GI issues in the morning before training. Lots of bloating through the night as well. Have a Fatherās day breakfast buffet scheduled for tomorrow, so itāll be a good weekend for weight gain.
PM WORKOUT
Stone of steel over bar (20)
3xStone
3x+50
3x+75
2x+100 (rep PR)
9x+50
Notes: Came into this workout feeling like I was going to puke. Most likely the result of the approximately 3lbs of bacon I had at breakfast that morning for Fatherās Day. The first 2 rounds were basically me hitting the reps and then feeling sorry for myself, but after that it seemed like I had sweat out the grease and was ready to play. Got smarter about loading the stone, and instead of going 2 25s, then 2 35s and then 2 45s, realized I could just keep slapping 25s in there. Technique was feeling strong and Iām still learning stuff. Did a better job of really squatting down to the stone to start the rep, and my lapping felt more natural and secure.
Woke up at 197.2. Bought a weightgainer while I was out, since I had a good discount on it. Figured itād help make morning workouts faster, as I plan to just slam it and go. Out of respect for biotest, I wonāt say which companyās product, but they used to sponsor Kroc. Seemed one of the few massgainers on the market that wasnāt just maltodextrin and protein powder.
AM WORKOUT
GIANT SETS
Log viper and press away
5xLog
5x145
5x170
11x195
1x265(strict, lifetime PR)
15x150
Reverse hypers 230
6x14
Band pull aparts
6x20
GIANT SETS
Log clean and push press 225
4x3
Reverse hyper 230
4x14
Hammer curls 45
4x10
Notes: I took some video of the 265 set that Iāll upload later, but it was a total beast of an effort. Definite āstanding bench pressā moment, where the weight and shape of the log definitely overtook my body and I was just holding on. Pressing it, it wanted to go everywhere but up, and ended up traveling in front, behind, and to the side before eventually moving all the way up. I was afraid of either dumping the log or dislocating my shoulder at one point. All of this just makes the victory sweeter though. This is the weight Iāll use in competition, and if I can hit it for a strict press first thing in the morning under significant fatigue, I feel confident for the day of, to say nothing of if I end up in the lower weight class.
The clean for that set wasnāt awful either. Theyāre still not great, but theyāre getting better.
Thought I went for a 5lb increase on the push presses, but turns out it was 15. Hit triples as well as I can. Leg drive still rough, but Iāll take it.
Woke up at 198.2. Iāll see how much of that I keep through the week, but things keep trending up.
Mrs. gave me a massage last night for Fatherās day and remarked that my back had āmore musclesā than she remembered being there since the last time she gave me a massage. I think thatās a good sign for this hypertrophy phase.
Wow, very nice!
That is awesome
BUT then:
This is crazy mate.
Well done.
@littlesleeper Thanks dude!
@mortdk Thanks man! Being able to hit that second set after the first one is a huge victory.
On that note, here is the video
I am amazed at the weird angles my back can take, haha.
That was a rugged press man.
This was crazy! Congrats on that huge PR
Jeez man, thatās impressive. Congrats!
@mr.v3lv3t No kidding man. I may just start linking that when people ask āwhat do you mean about strength vs techniqueā, haha.
@Koestrizer and @danteism thanks to both of you. Much appreciated.
AM WORKOUT
SUPERSETS
Buffalo Bar Squats 260
10x10
Set 1: Dips 1x34
Set 2: Band pull aparts 1x20
Set 3: Log clean 1x1x200lbs
rotate
Notes: I seem to have adjusted to this stimulus. Not nearly as awful as it was the past few times. Part of that is switching to a lighter/more dynamic approach to the cleans I imagine, but part of it is just getting more accustomed to the workload and degree of suck. Still sticking with sub 2 minute rest periods. Iām getting closer and closer to RX weight with the lowest rest periods, which will mean moving on to fewer sets for the same rep total soon.
Woke up at 197.8. Am already getting fed up with how much I have to eat. Re-living my āBuilding the Monolithā experience.
Nice man!!!
Thanks duke!
AM WORKOUT
GIANT SETS
Axle bench press
5xAxle
5x136
5x185
5x226
5x256
11x291
19x226
GB lat pulldown 90
2x20
2x18
2x16
1x20
Band pull aparts
7x20
GIANT SETS
Axle strict press 136
5x8
250+lb sandbag bearhug and carry
5 rounds
DB lateral raise 25
5x12
Notes: This actually happened yesterday, but been without computer access for 24 hours. The bench was decent, but real victory was the sandbag. Far less drama getting set-up: just ducked down, swept it up and went. Bodes well for a more solid object. Strict press continues to improve at a gradual rate.
Woke up at 197.0 that morning. No weigh in today. Got some new weightlifting shoes (Adidas Powerlift 3.1s) that Iāll try out for some front squatting tomorrow.
I have the older version, been using an for 3+ years and they are still holding up very well. Good shoes.
@theonecamko I tried them out today. I can only compare them to a 5 year old pair of Pendlay Do-wins. The Adidas are definitely more comfortable. More padding around the heel. However, they also seem wider, which I imagine the majority of the lifting world appreciates, since it seems everyone has feet like a loaf of bread, but I have very narrow long feet, which meant I felt like I was swimming in them. Thinking a break-in period will help, but they definitely werenāt bad shoes, especially for $45. Iāll have to decide which I end up favoring.
on that note
LATE AM WORKOUT
Front squats
5xBar
3x95
1x135
1x185
1x225
RESTPAUSE (12 deep breaths between sets)
6x275
3x275
2x275
1x275
5x225
4x225
3x225
2x225
1x225
Notes: Had a helluva time keeping the bar in the rack position. Slid down my arms at the end of every set, but still got through and felt pretty strong all things considered.
Woke up at 197.0. Still very pleased with rate of weight growth, and by all accounts Iām getting less fat than usual.
This is one of the reasons I love em haha, I busted open all of my chucks from a combination of my wide feet and lifting. If you end up not wanting them Ill be happy to take em off your hands for $5 and some lifting advice on the house.
Why did you stop using your harness for front squats? Didnāt you start using it in the first place because your front rack was giving you problems?
@theonecamko My advice would be ādonāt wear used shoesā, haha.
@Koestrizer Iām pretty unimpressed with the harness. I think itās viable for very VERY low rep sets, but with high reps the harness has a tendency to come forward off the shoulders and leave considerable space between my torso and the harness. I actually have a permanent scar my abdomen now from the bolt of the harness digging into my body over multiple reps. Ultimately, the ends need to be bent downward to better secure onto the shoulders. However, Iām also front squatting in this manner to work on my ability to maintain my posture under heavy load, which the harness allowed me to cheat. By having the bar actually racked, itās up to me to maintain posture.