Road to My First Strongman Competition

Training Logs
1

Here we go!! I am starting this log to track my progress as I look to compete in my first Strongman competition as a novice this year.

A little background on me:

A few months ago I may have been going through a midlife crisis LOL. What every it was I decided to stop talking about being healthy and to focus on my health. At my heaviest was floating around 370-380 lbs. Being overweight and unhealthy just wasn’t working for me anymore so I decided to stop talking and do something about it.

First thing to change was my diet. I reduced the amount of meat I was eating which helped me because it if I wasn’t eating meat then that would mean less trips to Wendy’s. That worked and eventually it morphed into a meatless diet.

Another change was to stop talking about things I wanted to do and just go after them. Hence my goal to compete in strongman.

Last November after 20 years of not working out I decided it was time to go back and not only lose the weight but get strong as well.

I decided that I would start with Stronglifts 5x5 as it was geared towards beginners and would allow me to focus on my form. (Left my ego at the home)

Stats in November:
Weight: 325
Squat: ?
Bench: ?
Deadlift: ?
OHP: ?

Current Stats today:

Age 36
Weight: 312
Squat: 165lbs 5x5
Bench:140 5x5
Deadlift: 205lbs 1x5
OHP: 105lbs 5x5
Barbell Row: 120lbs 5x5

I know that If I want to compete in strongman need to bring those numbers up considerably. Hopefully by the summer I can build up to compete as a novice.

Any comments, tips, advice, and suggestions are welcome.

Today’s Workout:

Squat:
45lbs x 5
45lbs x 5
95lbs x 5
135lbs x 3
165lbs x 5
165lbs x 5
165lbs x 5
165lbs x 5
165lbs x 5

Overhead Press:
45lbs x 5
45lbs x 5
75lbs x 3
105lbs x 5
105lbs x 5
105lbs x 5
105lbs x 5
105lbs x 5

Deadlift:
135lbs x 5
175lbs x 5
205lbs x 5

Notes Found my arms and knees trembling on the last couple of reps on the overhead press but was able to lock out the 5th rep.

1 Like
2

1/9/17

A.M.
30 min fasted cardio

P.M.
Squats

45lbs x 5
45lbs x 5
95 lbs x 5
135lbs x 3
170lbs x 5
170lbs x 5
170lbs x 5
170lbs x 5
170lbs x 5

Bench
45lbs x 5
45lbs x 5
95lbs x 5
115lbs x 3
145lbs x 5
145lbs x 5
145lbs x 5
145lbs x 5
145lbs x 5

Barbell Rows
95lbs x 5
125lbs x 5
125lbs x 5
125lbs x 5
125lbs x 5
125lbs x 5

20 min cardio

3

1/11/17

AM
30 min fasted cardio

PM
Squats
45lbs x 5
45lbs x 5
95lbs x 5
135lbs x 3
170lbs x 5
170lbs x 5
170lbs x 5
170lbs x 5
170lbs x 5

OHP
45lbs x 5
45lbs x 5
75lbs x 3
110lb x 5
110lb x 5
110lb x 5
110lb x 5
110lb x 5

Deadlifts
135lbs x 5
170lbs x 5
215lbs x 5

4

1/13/17

A.M.
30 min fasted cardio

P.M.
Squats

45lbs x 5
45lbs x 5
95 lbs x 5
135lbs x 3
180lbs x 5
180lbs x 5
180lbs x 5
180lbs x 5
180lbs x 5

Bench
45lbs x 5
45lbs x 5
95lbs x 5
115lbs x 3
150lbs x 5
150lbs x 5
150lbs x 5
150lbs x 5
150lbs x 5

Barbell Rows
95lbs x 5
135bs x 5
135bs x 5
135lbs x 5
135lbs x 5
135lbs x 5

5

Hey man! Awesome that you started doing this! I’m not a strongman competitor but I wanted to say great job on the steps you’ve taken! T nation is an awesome place and you’ll get tons of support here. Keep on pushing man!

2 Likes
6

@Mence97 thanks man. I know I have a long road ahead of me but making progress each week. My main focus has been on not ego lifting and making sure my form is correct so I don’t injure myself. One of the things that have helped me as been telling people my goals, in a way it holds me accountable because I don’t want people thiking I am full of bs

1 Like
7

Good attitude. I put my friend on 5x5, but he couldn’t put up with the low weights for the first few weeks, started adding weight too fast, hit a plateau and quit. Don’t be that guy!

Great job here, keep consistent and it will all come together.

1 Like
8

1/16/16

AM
30 min fasted cardio

PM
Squats
45lbs x 5
45lbs x 5
95lbs x 5
135lbs x 5
150lbs x 3
185lbs x 5
185lbs x 5
185lbs x 5
185lbs x 5
185lbs x 5

OHP
45lbs x 5
45lbs x 5
75lbs x 3
115lb x 5
115lb x 5
115lb x 5
115lb x 5
115lb x 5

Deadlifts
135lbs x 5
185lbs x 5
225lbs x 5

9

I understand how he feels. I felt the same way with the light weights. Wondering who was watching me squat 5x5 with the bar or bench 5x5 with the bar. Then I just said to myself the he’ll with what peoplease think.

2 Likes
10

1/18/17

Squats

45lbs x 5
45lbs x 5
95 lbs x 5
135lbs x 5
165lbs x 3
190lbs x 5
190lbs x 5
190lbs x 5
190lbs x 5
190lbs x 5

Bench
45lbs x 5
45lbs x 5
95lbs x 5
125lbs x 3
155lbs x 5
155lbs x 5
155lbs x 5
155lbs x 5
155lbs x 5

Barbell Rows
95lbs x 5
140lbs x 5
140lbs x 5
140lbs x 5
140lbs x 5
140lbs x 5

No cardio today. Woke up late this morning and didn’t have the time to stay longer tonight.

1 Like
11

1/20/17

AM
30 min fasted cardio

PM
Squats
45lbs x 5
45lbs x 5
95lbs x 5
135lbs x 5
165lbs x 3
195lbs x 5
195lbs x 5
195lbs x 5
195lbs x 5
195lbs x 5

OHP
45lbs x 5
45lbs x 5
75lbs x 3
120lb x 5
120lb x 5
120lb x 5
120lb x 5
120lb x 5

Deadlifts
135lbs x 5
185lbs x 5
205lbs x 5
230lbs x 5

1 Like
12

1/23/17

AM

30 min fasted cardio

Squats

45lbs x 5
45lbs x 5
95 lbs x 5
135lbs x 5
175lbs x 3
200lbs x 5
200lbs x 5
200lbs x 5
200lbs x 5
200lbs x 5

Bench
45lbs x 5
45lbs x 5
95lbs x 5
135lbs x 3
160lbs x 5
160lbs x 5
160lbs x 5
160lbs x 5
160lbs x 5

Barbell Rows
115lbs x 5
145lbs x 5
145lbs x 5
145lbs x 5
145lbs x 5
145lbs x 5

Rough morning today. Dragging and didn’t want to get out of bed. Then I thought about what @Alpha said in a video lat week, if your goals are important then it doesn’t matter how you feel you do what has to be done. Once I got to the gym and got to work felt a hell of alot better.

Still a long way to go but getting there day by day.

1 Like
13

Great attitude. Happy to see you logging here. You might check out @twojarslave’s log, go all the way back to the beginning, and see how far he’s come. Not all that different from where you were when you started, and deadlifting 600+ now.

14

1/24/17

30 min Fasted Cardio: 1 min running, 3 minuts walking

Going to see how doing cardio in between weight training works out. Hopefully it won’t cause me ti stall especially on squats.

15

Thank man. I checked out @twojarslave’s log, pretty impressive. I love reading everyone’s log it helps to keep me inspired and motivated especially on those days when I’m dragging and tired.

16

@gwtwins Congratulations on your progress. You’ve dropped a lot of weight. Now you’re getting in to barbells. I like what you’re doing so far. I do not think you will regret this decision at all. I’ll be following along as long as you are posting!

17

Thanks for the encouragement. I know I won’t regret it. I feel 100 times better than when I was just a couch potato. The progress I make in weight loss as well as in the gym are what keep me motivated to continue. I actually find the gym as a stress relief after a stressful day at work. Going to continue to push myself to see how far I can go

18

1/25/17

AM
30 min fasted cardio

PM
Squats
45lbs x 5
45lbs x 5
95lbs x 5
135lbs x 5
175lbs x 3
205lbs x 5
205lbs x 5
205lbs x 5
205lbs x 5
205lbs x 5

OHP
45lbs x 5
45lbs x 5
85lbs x 3
125lb x 5
125lb x 5
125lb x 5
125lb x 5
125lb x 5

Deadlifts
135lbs x 5
185lbs x 5
205lbs x 5
235lbs x 5

So far progressing on my lifts as planned. The overhead press so far has been the toughest lift. Still able to get 5x5 but have to mix in a couple of 3 minutes rests in between. Either way still get to add weight next time so that’s a plus.

Dragging after work a little today so grab an extra caffein coffee before my workout. The caffeine does wonders. The weights felt lighter than other days where I didn’t have a coffee.

19

1/27/17

AM

30 min fasted cardio

Squats

45lbs x 5
45lbs x 5
95 lbs x 5
135lbs x 5
175lbs x 3
210lbs x 5
210lbs x 5
210lbs x 5
210lbs x 5
210lbs x 5

Bench
45lbs x 5
45lbs x 5
95lbs x 5
135lbs x 3
165lbs x 5
165lbs x 5
165lbs x 5
165lbs x 5
165lbsx 5

Barbell Rows
135lbs x 5
150lbs x 5
150lbs x 5
150lbs x 5
150lbs x 5
150lbs x 5

20

1/30/17

AM
30 min fasted cardio

PM
Squats
45lbs x 5
45lbs x 5
95lbs x 5
135lbs x 5
175lbs x 3
215lbs x 5
215lbs x 5
215lbs x 5
215lbs x 5
215lbs x 5

OHP
45lbs x 5
45lbs x 5
85lbs x 3
130lb x 5
130lb x 5
130lb x 5
130lb x 5
130lb x 5

Deadlifts
135lbs x 5
185lbs x 5
215lbs x 5
245lbs x 5