Week 2 Pulls - December 31, 2014

My back was still pretty tight so I decided to pull sumo and see how things went.  It felt really good up until I got to the working weight I was supposed to triple, 600.  It was pure shakey crap and I only got a single...  Oh well, it had been a year since I had tried sumo.  After that I decided to move on and did some front squats.  I suck at these so I am going to throw these in regularly.  Shrugs finished things up.  New Years Eve, and we are going to try and be in bed before 11.

Week 2 Bench - 12/29/2014

Benching went pretty good.  Still trying to get used to and break in this new red Overkill shirt.  It is a beast for sure.  The first shirt that actually fit me and that I learned to shirted bench in was a 2 ply Overkill.  That shirt beat me to death and it took about six months to be able to touch.  Every since then I have been able to work with any shirt pretty easy...  Not this red one.  Wow, it is a serious shirt.
Last night I worked up with doubles, 565 to a 2Bd, 605 to a 1Bd (video), and then 635 to a 3Bd.  You can see in the video how bad it gets in that 1Bd area.  I feel so out of position and it feels like I'm not getting the drive and belly that I need.  But, I'll keep working it the best I can.

Next up was close-grip reverse band presses to a 3Bd for triples.  Love these...  Got a small PR of 725 for 3.  I know I say it all the time but these are a game changer.  After these my elbows felt like they were going to pop.  So I finished off with some band press-downs.  Good night of training.

Week 2 Squats - 12/28/2014

I tweaked my lower back a little pulling last week. It's super tight still so I didn't do any heavy squats. I started with leg presses. I worked up doing sets of ten to around 700, nothing crazy. Next I did some cambered bar squats for three sets of five with 245. Back felt fine doing these and I think it helped stretch everything out. Finished with ten sets of ten leg extensions. Light easy day.

Week 1 Pulls - December 26

Things went okay tonight, I was totally exausted when I walked into the gym. This was week one of my pulls so I didn't push it too hard. I worked up to roughly 85% for triples. Next I moved over to do some cambered bar squats for reps, these sucked because they were Unequipped. A few sets of leg curls and standing band crunches and I was done. 

Meet Prep Week 1 - 12/26/2014

Things have been very unorganized with my training the last few weeks.  With Christmas and moving we haven't had much time for anything but that.  Now that we have settled into our new home and Christmas is behind us its time to start getting focused.  I have decided to not do the XPC this year, I am going to stay closer to home to save some money and get things back in order after a hectic and expensive close of the year.  I have two meets in mind but haven't decided on which one, both are on February 28th.
Tonight I am going to finish up week one of prep with pulls.  I missed the squat session Saturday because I was squatting furniture and then Sunday we were in Tampa for the APF Outlaw Meet hosted by Tampa Barbell, very good meet.  I was able to bench on Tuesday and was pretty happy with it.  Nothing to crazy, triples up to 575 to a 2bd.  Then close grip presses with a light reverse band to 700 off a 3bd for triples. That is my favorite bench exercise of all, so much can be gained from it.
So, the prep begins and hopefully I'll hold together and make it through another one.

11/17/14 Squats

 I am planning on the XPC Finals at the Arnold. My SC joint is still a little swollen and sore. I've decided not to bench for the next few weeks and see how it goes. I can overhead press and do some light presses with no problems but I want to let this heal. If it's not 90%+ I may not do the meet. But I've got about 14 weeks to figure it out. I squatted last night since Id been off since Relentless. I worked up to 700x2 then finished with 800x2 RB. Weight felt good on my back and I was happy with how it went. I didn't pull since last week we did those high pulls and my collar bone "popped". Weighted decline sit-ups finished things off. We decided that I should just stay in full gear until the meet. I need the practice and the gear work. 

Dead, Squat, and Bench 9/27-9/29

Made a tweak in my training to allow me to go ahead and test my deadlift.  It was a week for single pulling anyway so it wasn't too much of a big deal.  My training had been going pretty good and I felt like I had a good shot at finally getting the 700 pull.  I opened with 625 and then Mindy talked me into going right to 700.  It went up pretty good.  I'm very happy to have gotten it, a 22lbs PR because I have struggled horribly with the deadlift for a long time.  I finally feel that I am heading in the right direction.  Below is video:

I squatted the next day, Sunday but was feeling pretty taxed in my lower back so I went up to 600 and called it.  Did my weighted abs and went home to eat and rest.  BUT, on Monday it was my second time in the new Overkill shirt.  I was planning on really testing it and putting some weight on the bar.  This red shirt is unbelievable.  I cant say enough good things, so far...   I worked up to a nice 655 to a 2 bd. Then I decided to try 700, I had never had more than 640 in my hands straight weight...  The only argument was to what board.  I finally decided on a 3 bd.  I was hoping for a nice single but it felt so good I went for a double.  Looking back and after my conversation with Jayson I should have taken it to the 2 bd.  Oh well that is the plan this week.  Here is video:

I'm really looking forward to Relentless and if my squat decides to cooperate I feel like I could have a very good meet.  We'll see how the squat goes Sunday, its big single day!

Week 4 Training

Had some issues Sunday with training.  Couple things came up and I had to cut it short.  Only worked up to around 450 in briefs for squats and 405 for pulls.  It ended up being a half ass deload.

I got my new red Overkill shirt and Monday i put it on for the first time.  The fit is really good, chest plate is very tight...  We didn't have many spotters that night, 1... so i worked in it at 405 for a few sets of triples then a single with 495.  I might have gotten to a 2 to 2.5 board.  I'm not going to really use boards breaking it in just keep working it for doubles and triples.

Mindy and I are having a small push/pull meet at our gym, The Weight Pile on Saturday.

Week 3 Squats-Deads and Bench for Relentless

Squats went pretty good considering the issues I've had lately.  I was in some new Ace briefs for the second time and am back in my Jack squat suit.  I have gained a little bit of weight...  Up to almost 305 now.  Everything fit pretty good and I felt comfortable with the weight on my back.  I was definitely high and I'll be working on that.  Pulling heavy afterward is something that I am coming to like, so far.  I worked up to a triple with 585.  Here is the video:

Warm-ups on my bench felt really good and I thought I was going to do well getting back in my shirt.  Not so.  The added body-weight has my shirt off.  I have never had a problem with touching in this shirt since the first time I put it on.  I couldn't get to a 2 board with 455 do I knew something was up.  Then my thumbs started going numb.  I pulled on the sleeves and tried to work my bicep around and it did help some.  I was supposed to do triples and got to 565 and when I hit my second rep to a 1.5 board I slipped and almost lost it.  I just racked it and tried to wipe off and sprayed a little stickum on my back.  I took 600 next and the first rep was super ugly and slow and I slipped again.  Something popped in my left forearm so i shut it down.  I got the shirt off and everything was fine, no marks or bruising on my forearm so it must have been nothing big...  I finished with a set of 20 reps close grip with 225.   Here is video:

So now I'm waiting on a new shirt that should arrive any day now. Really looking forward to Relentless. 

Form Pulls. 9/10/14

Pretty good night. Form pulls tonight, 3x2 conventional off of a 1.5" defecit then 3x2 off 3/4" deficit sumo. Weight was 320+90lbs of chains. The weight was probably a little more than it should have been for the sumos but it was fun. I'm not a big no belt person but I'm doing the form pull/squat days with no belt to see how it goes. We did leg presses and extensions to finish off. Tried to focus on the quads tonight. 

Benching Week 2 for Relentless 9/8/14

Last night was a little rough.  Not 100% sure why but both my biceps were hurting pretty bad.  And it took forever for my elbows to warm up...  I wanted to call it a couple of times but pushed on through.  I was supposed to go for 395 3x2, but that wasn't happening.  So i went to 375 for 3x2 unequipped.  All three sets sucked and hurt like hell.  Then it was 2x3 with the slingshot.  Lat week I had done 425 for 2x2 and wanted to hit more but thought since it was triples I better be conservative considering my elbows and biceps.  I put the slingshot on and the first set was nothing and there was very little pain...  So I decided to go up and did a very ease triple with 445, see video:

I was pretty much done and ended the night with some very light pressdowns.  I'm going to ice down and see how things go.  I think that the issue may be the added day of shoulders/back/arms.  It may take me a few weeks to get my recovery in order for the extra work.  But, its nothing I cant push thru...

Don't forget our meet on September 27th!

Week 2 Squats & Deads

Week 2 training for Relentless. Felt really good coming off last week. Body weight is around 295.  I have had a terrible time fitting in my briefs so I got a pair of briefs from Chad Walker and had the sides taken in a little bit. I wore them for the first time today. Fit pretty good. 

Unequipped up to 435x2

Briefs up to 615x2

Started pulling and ended up at 605x1

Really enjoying training these days and have an awesome crew to train with. We are having a small push/pull meet at The Weight Pile on September 27th. Hope to see you there. 

Week 1 Squat/Dead and Bench Training.

I started my training for Relentless Sunday with a whole new program and split for my training. Sunday was squats and deads. I worked up to 425 for 3 raw then in briefs went to 600 x 3. Nothing spectacular just feeling things out. On deads I worked up to 520 for a double. Finished the day with weighted abs. I'm looking to help increase my endurance and also work my dead weekly by pulling on squat day. 

Bench was pretty good. Feeling out the numbers. Did 375 for 3 x 3 raw then 425 for 2 x 2 in a slingshot. Here's a link to the last set of 375:

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10204504367108901&id=100002724564405

Here is the last double with 425:

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10204504377109151&id=100002724564405

Did some incline barbell presses for the first time in awhile and I'm a little sore. Nothing heavy but it's something I'll do for awhile.