Redline training...hanging on for dear life

A photo posted by Matt (@regionbarbell) on Mar 13, 2015 at 7:27am PDT

The last few months have been very stressful and that stress is culminating as I move into a new chapter of my life. My training has been my companion, my savior, my void.  I have pushed it as hard as I ever have and my body is responding.  Things have not been idea so my sleep and recovery have been off but I continue to move forward in a positive direction.

I have been focused on my nutrition while stress has been high and this has been a great thing for me. I am still under eating but keeping as much mass as I can.  If all works out I will lift at 220 in July.


5/12 dynamic effort lower
Roller hypers and roller leg curls
70 4 sets of 10 hypers and 10 leg curls

Box squat - Not as speedy as I would like but it is what it is.
255 5x2

Back was out some so I skipped deadlifts
Goblet squat 1.5's on ramp - Occluded (2 sets) 30x15,15,12

A1 - Occluded TKE 2x25, 1x25 5 second hold on multiples of 5
A2 leg raises 2x20


5/13 Dynamic effort upper

Elitefts shoulder saver bench press - 320, 340, 365x5
Speed bench w/ 1 chain 185 3x5, 205 3x5, 225 3x5, single at 255 and 275

A1 - Low incline dumbbell fly - 5 second lower 15x12, 20x12, 25x12
A2 - overhead rope pushdown 20x15 w/10 sec hold on last, 40 2x15 w/ 10 sec hold.

5/14 Upper assistance

A1 - reverse hyper rows 200 4x12
A2 hammer curls across body 25, 35x12, 40 2x12

B1 Incline curls 20x12, 25 2x12
B2 6 way 12 3x6
B3 spider walk 3x 3 up and down

5/15 Max effort lower

I want's planning on doing anything heavy today but thanks to Aaron who is helping me deal with my stress by pushing me in the gym. Without him there I would have gone through the motions.

Deficit deadlift on 3 small mats
315x2, 365, 415, 455, 505, 545, 585, 615x1, 500x8 - Not sure that is a PR but it has been a while since I pulled over 600 raw conventional.  This are working.

GHR ladders x8,7,7 super set with keg carry 3x distance

Walking lunges to the street and back - 120 total

A1 - short strap hypers 4 1/2 plates 2x15

A2 - Pulldown abs 3x15

5/17 - Max effort Upper

pause bench - 330x5,4,3,3

A video posted by Matt (@regionbarbell) on May 17, 2015 at 4:25pm PDT

Illegal wide bench 225 275, 290x10

A1- Ahrens overhead press - 25, 30, 35, 40, 45x10
A2 - Piston pushdown orange 4x25

B1 serrano ohp 5x8, 8x8,x10
B2 sled drag Y+T 45 3x distance

bent over swing rear delt 40 x until traps took over

C1 steep incline db fly 15x12, 20, 25x15, 30x20
C2 decline curls 3 sec lower - 20x15, 25 2x15, 20x  partialsxfail

Redline Training W2/3 – More volume and iron therapy

This is week 2 of my Redline training but I did a week prior to starting the push. SO is this week 2 or 3?

4/13 dynamic effort lower

Short strap hypers – 200 2x15

Box squat – 235 5x2

Speed deadlift 405+60 pound of chain 20x1 (10 conventional, 10 sumo) Time of 10 min 15 seconds

A1 – pull through 100x12, 110 3x12

A2 – single leg alternating leg curl – orange band 4x15

B1 – short strap hypers 250x12, 295 2x12

B2 – band leg extension w/ 5 second lower   averagex8, strongx8, 8

4/16 AM dynamic effort upper

Dad was in the hospital on Wednesday and I was unable to get to the gym so I had to push this back a day later than normal. All went well and his procedure only took a few hours.

Elitefts shoulder saver bench press Up to 365x4

Swiss bar speed bench 225 9x5

Close grip bench against 60 pound of chain 305 5x1

A1 – JM press (reverse light band) to foam pad 255 x6, 5, 5

A2 – neutral grip pushdown 55 5x15

4/16 PM  upper assistance

This is my normal Thursday session but I had to push it to the afternoon because of the morning make up. This also allowed me to train with someone else and it was great to have Rob push me.

Dead stop dumbbell rows 100x10, 130 3x10

Tbar scap row and row 115 x 12/12, 125 3x12/12

Serrano arm complex 3x

Trifecta muscle round 20 2x

4/17 AM Max effort lower

 hips and low back were a little tight from the adjustment and back work the night before.

Long strap hypers 160x15, 205 2x15

Deadlift with plates on 4 mats. 425, 475, 515, 565, 605x1

Stiff leg deadlift standing on wood platform – 225x8, 275x8, 315x7, 365 3x8 (I am hurtin!)

That was all I had time.

4/17 PM  lower assistance

Reverse hyper long strap – sets of 8 until I got to 10 plates. Then did 1 drop sets.  10 reps with 10,9,8,7 plates. Stopped just enough to have partner remove the plate.

A1 - Glute ham raise 21’s – After the stiff leg deads in the morning this was a bad idea. 7 back raises, 7 glute ham raises from parallel, then 7 back raise+ glute ham raise.  3x

A2 – pulldown abs 3x12-15

I didn’t do any quad work and I really need it but again time was an issue. 

4/19 Max effort upper and pump city!
Fat gripz bench 225x5, 275x3, 315x1, 345x1, 370x1 PR, 385x1 PR - It was ugly but I finished it.

Overhead press - A weak area I really need to bring up.  155 x6, 6, 12
A1 dips - +25 poundsx8, +45x8, +90x8, 6, +45x muscle round - fail on last rep.

A2 Mag grip pulldown  130 5x15

B1 6way 10 x 2 muscle rounds
B2 hammer curls 2 sets after each muscle round

band pull aprts 3x30


An end to a good first cycle. I need to force myself to deload. Stress has been too high for me to run at this pace any longer. Weight is down 4-5 pounds. Holding body weight  between 240-241.

Been talking with a body builder friend and working on my physique.  I know shoulders and legs need much work but my back is not bad. So here is a bonus progress picture. DOn't mind the grown out mohawk and shaggy hair.

Redline training - week 1

Redline training

Stress has been extremely high and the iron has been my therapy. I am pushing training very hard for a meet in July.  All the training has been a raw focus and will continue that for the next 8-10 weeks.

4/4 Max effort bench

W1

Close grip bench (thumb knuckle from smooth)

315x5, 335x2, 355x2, 365, 380x1

Add catapult 365x6, 385x6

Overhead press

115x6, 135x6, 145x6, 6, 12

A1 - Dips against orange band 12, 12, 12, 12, 10, 10

A2 – Mag grip pulldown 130 4x12, 1x10

6 way muscle rounds 8x1, 10x1, 10 – fail on 4^th set

B1 – hammer curls 35 3x12, 1x10

B2 – band pull aparts mini 4x20

4/8 BW 243 – dynamic effort bench

Elitefts Shoulder saver bench Up to 340x6

Swiss bar speed bench 225 9x5

Close grip bench w/ 60 pound of chain 285 5x1

A1 - Jm press (reverse light band) to foam pad 225x6, 245x6, 265x6

A2 - Neutral grip pushdown 50 5x15

Band fly – mini band x100 reps with 10 second hold at 25, 50, 75 and 100

4/9 BW 244.5 – upper assistance

Dead stop dumbbell rows 100x10, 130 3x10

Tbar scap rows+tbar rows (12 of each) 3x12/12

Serrano arm complex – 3x (top secret)

Trifecta – 20 2x muscle round

As you can see there has been a ton of volume.  My time in the gym has helped to keep me from going crazy. Going into the void like Dave Tate.  But pushing this hard into the red will eventually be my on undoing.  Let's see how far we can take this before that happens. 

Relentless meet write up

It has been a few weeks since the meet and I am finally getting some time to sit down and put everything down on paper.

Being a part of Relentless is one of the most amazing things I have ever done.  It is about lifting but it is not.  These meets are about HOPE.  As a whole we raised over $214,000 to help kids and families with life threatening illnesses.

When people talk about the relentless family they truly mean it is a family.  It is like a reunion at these meets.  Lifters helping other lifters even though it might hurt their own performance.  The meet atmosphere is different.

Going into the meet I had some goals.

1. Get through a full meet and put up a total
2. Set myself up for a bench and deadlift PR
3. Squat 525, bench 535, deadlift 740.  (planned 3rd attempts)

I de-loaded a little longer than I had planned so I wasn't sure how things would totally end up.

Friday we drove out and I made weight at 239.2 after my wife decided to play the heat game to cut the last few pounds and make weight.

Meet day 

Squats

Planned attempts 475, 500, 525

Since I was squatting in just briefs I was first in the flight.  I opened easy at 475.  Everything felt good so I jumped to my planned 3rd attempt of 525. Three white lights so I jumped to 550 and it ws good as well.  Looking at the video I should have gone heavier but I still would have been short of a PR total so it didn't really matter.

Actual attempts 475, 525, 550 - 3 for 3

Bench press

Planned attempts 500, 515-520, 535

A few weeks out from the meet I found a run and a small hole in my single ply shirt.  i wasn't sure if it would hold up through the meet but I was going to use it until it blew.

The weights felt light in the warm up room and my shoulder didn't give me much trouble as I warmed up.  I opened with 500 and had some difficulty touching but I touched and pressed very easily.  I was urged to take a big jump.  I decided to go for 525 since I was in the meet and my squat was above what I had planned.   My second attempt again flew up and I was urged to take a big jump.  Into uncharted water I went. Blowing past my PR of 530 to 550.  Taking jumps like this make me nervous because I have never pressed this much before.  My third attempt was good and this looked to be about the right call.  Six for Six!

Deadlift

Planned attempts 685, 715, 740

My lifting has always been about the deadlift.  It is my lift.  Training went well and my indicators shows I should be good for about 750.  My indicators we dead on.  After an easy opener and second attempt I took my planned third of 740.  My second attempt was a small pr and my third would be 25 pounds more than I had ever deadlifted from the floor.

740 came up like an opener!

9 for 9

 It is always exciting to see your training come together and do exactly what you set out to do.  Yet it is almost disappointing knowing that you left so many pounds on the platform.  I am now eagerly awaiting some down time to recover and relax.  It won't be long before prep for Relentless Minnesota begins.

Relentless Detroit 3 weeks out

10/13 Dynamic Effort Lower

TRX leg curls 4x10

Speed deadlift 455 5x1

Yoke bar goodmornings 145 3x8

Single leg hypers 4 plates 4x8

Situps on ghr 2x8

10/15 Speed bench

Speed bench – Short mini and long micro mini 165 5x5, 185 1x5, 205, 225x1

Db press on steep incline 80 x12, 9, 9

Banded scap rows – avg band 2x12

A1 neutral grip pushdown 4x10

A2 side raises 4x15

10/16 Bench assistance

Neutral grip pulldowns 4x8

Alternating db curls 3x8

Barbell rows 2x10

Drag curls 2x8

10/17 Max effort Lower

Tuesday my knee felt great. After the soft tissue work my swelling was down to as good as it gets.  Wednesday morning I took my dog for a walk and my knee was tender to talk on. It felt like I had a bruise next to my knee cap. The problem is I did no lower body and don’t remember hitting it on anything. Needless to say I tried to keep things simple and put as little pressure as possible on the joint.

Suspended yoke bar good mornings

Worked up to 365x2 – Very good for me from this position.

A1 long strap hypers 9 plates 4x10

A2 side bends 70 4x12

I trained a client then did Serrano slplit squats with a Purdue Barbell lifter. I think this caused my knee to swell more or stay swollen. I felt alright. I have a feeling my Lateral quad is tight and pulling my kneecap over enough to cause some issues.

10/19 Max effort upper

Had a visitor come in and train with me today. We had a good pace and he pushed me to work harder today. I am always grateful for those workouts.

Reverse band bench with elitefts strong bands

225, 275, 315x5

365x3, 405x2, 455x1, 495x1

515x1, add grey catapult 545x1, 565x1

Relentless Detroit - 4 weeks out

10/7 DE lower

Pretty beat up from last weekend so I kept things very easy.

Reverse hypers 8sets

Side bends 3 sets

10/8 DE upper

3 board

275, 295, 315, 335, 355x5

4 board

345 3x5

Speed bench

Short mini + long micro mini

185 6x5

Pushdowns 3x12

10/9 Upper assistance

A1 dumbell rows 130 3x8

A2 DD pulldowns 130 3x8

Jwalking 2x

B1 DB preacher curl 3x12

B2 hammer curls – bottom half 3x12

10/10 Max effort deadlift

Manual leg curls 3x5 assistance from avg band 3x5

Deadlift with plates raised 2 ½ inches (4 mats)

585x1

Add  jack sumo deadlifter

625, 675, 715x1, 750 close but no cigar.

10/11 Deadlift For Hope

The meet raised $2500 for Detroit Relentless.  I am very happy about this. 

After the meet I had some soft tissue work done. It beat me up pretty good but I felt better.

10/12 ME upper

Still beat up from the day before I did what I could.

Floor press with 120# of chain 185, 225, 255x1 ( I called it there rather than push it. )

Serrano overhead press 8 2x15

Relentless Detroit - 5 weeks out

9/30 Rep lower
Ball leg curls 3x12

Speed squats with light onyx band
225 4x2, 245 2x2, 275x1, 315x1

This was the first time I have done traditional speed squats in a very long time. I love it but my body just can't handle it.

stiff leg deadlift w/ 2 chain
315x6, 365 2x6

10/1 Speed bench
3 board
325 3x5

4 board
345x3
370x3
395x3

speed bench with short monster mini band
185 6x5

10/2 upper assistance
A1 dumbell rows
130 3x8

A2 pulldowns
4x12

B1 preacher curl
B2 hammer curl

trifecta
15x1

10/4 and 10/5 at the elitefte compound.
I was able to participate in the UGSS at elitefts.  Things went down like this.
Squat worked up to 510 in briefs

deadlift 4x isometric deadlifts superset with CAT deadlifts at 495. The last two speed deadlifts were 545 and 585.  These felt great even with it being the first time in a new jack sumo deadlifter.

Bench
Shoulder felt pretty good. The prehab work and neck stretching has helped.
Worked up to 530 in my single ply bash. I got some tips on how to twist the sleeves and how it should work.  I didn't get many reps but I am very happy with the end result.

I had a fantastic time with the elitefts family. I can't wait to go back.

Relentless Detroit - 6 weeks out

9/22 REP lower

band leg curl
TKE

box squat
235x3
285x2
315x11

Speed squat 235 and 120# of chain  3x2

long strap hypers 8 plates 4x10
abs

9/24 DE upper
Right shoulder felt normal with no issues but my left is still catchy and giving me issues.

If I push the bar very straight with the right grip I could do my board work but speed work was out.

3 board
315 3x5

4 board
315x5
330x5
345x5
370x7

4 board was 2 off my record and if my shoulder were healthy I think I could have gotten 10. But as long as I got 5 I can live with this for now.

band pushdowns - avg x50

serrano ohp 15 2x10
tates 40 3x12

9/25 upper assistance 
straight arm grenade pulldown 30 3x12

db curls
grenade facepulls
barbell curls

9/26 Max effort lower

Rackable camber bar box squat  with halfed monster mini band
185, 225, 275, 315x1


Stiff leg deadlifts
275 2x6

9/28 Max effort upper
Shoulder was still bothering me so I took it easy again.
bench w/ 120# of chain
black catapult 275 x3

reverse band jm press 185 5x6
reverse band rows 3x6
hammer curls

Relentless meet prep - 8 weeks out

9/8 Rep lower

band leg curls - Avg 3x12

Box squat - 275x15

Block DL
415x5
475x5
545x5

Afternoon
side bends - 80 3x12
Band good mornings - 5x20

9/10 Speed bench
4 board - 325 3x6

3 board
275 2x5
300 x5
320 x5
340 x5

speed bench w/ monster mini band
135 3x5
155 3x5

pushdowns 50 4x12

9/11 Upper assistance
Meadows rows 85 3x10

db incline curls 3x10
rotator pulldowns 4x12

Jwalking 3x distance
pulldown abs 3x10

9/12 Max effort lower
BW 234

ankle weight leg curls 2x12
deadlift work up to 485

A1 isometric deadlift in pin 1 4x6 seconds
A2 speed deadlift 485x2 reps  (4 rounds)

yoke bar good mornings 185 3x8

B1 short strap hypers 6 plates 5x10
B2 knee raises 4x10

C1 wall sit (60#, 80#) x60 seconds
C2 lunges 3x8

9/14 Max effort upper
Bench
320x5
350x2
365x1

add silver catapult
390x2
413x1

Add single ply shirt
433x2
443x2
453x2
473x1

right shoulder was toast after this.

serrano overhead press 10 2x12
Tates 50 3x12
low cable rows 90 3x12
jwalk x1

Relentless Detroit meet prep - 10 weeks out

8/27 Dynamic effort upper
Speed bench with swiss bar
225 6x5

DB press
130x6,6,8

A1 trifecta 20x60,15x60,10x60
A2 swiss bar ext 85 2x8, 105 2x8

band fly w/ stretch

8/28 upper assistance

neutral grip pulldown 130 5x12

rotator bar face pulls 8- 3x20

db preacher curls 30 3x8
hammer curls 3x12

8/29 Max effort lower

ankle weight leg curls 3x12

deadlift against 120# of chain
365x3, 405x3, 455x3 500x1

Ran out of time before a client got there.

Took a 75 minute break before finishing.

long strap hyper
7 1/2 plates 3x8

Then the worst decision I have ever made.
the 100 rep drop set. (10sets of 10)
9 1/2 plates down to 1.

That concluded my week.  Because I caught the stomach bug my kids brought home the very next day. This left me on the couch for 8 hours on Saturday before heading to bed for another 8 hours.  I am still sore and achy.

Relentless Detroit 11 weeks out

8/18 REP lower
knee was still swollen from the weekend so I cut down on the reps I would do. I am not rethinking my squatting up to the meet. I am not sure I can handle so many heavy loads on my back.  Time will tell.

band leg curls 3x10

Box squat 265x8

yoke bar good morning
135 2x5, 185x5

A1 band leg ext (5 second lower)
orange x10, greyx10

A2 wall sit
60 pounds x30 secs, 100 pounds x45, 60 secs

pulldown abs

8/20 Dynamic upper

Speed bench w/ long mini band
165 6x5

3 board 295 2x5
4 board  295x3, 315x3, 335x3, 355x3, 370x6


A1 dips - chain around neck 3x10
A2 rolling db extension 35 3x12

8/21 upper assistance
Neutral grip pulldown 5x12

facepulls with rotator bar 3x20

db preacher curls 3x12 with 5 second lower
hammer curls 30, 35x12

band pushdowns 2x50
band fly/rearfly x50 each.

8/22 Max effort lower

short strap hypers 4 plates 3x8

rackable camber bar goodmornings w/ 120# of chain
225x3,275x3,315x3,365x1,405x1

yoke bar box squat
225x3, 275 3x1

glute ham raise
orange band x5, grey band x5, black band 2x6

single arm farmers walk 50x2

8/24 Max effort upper
bench against 120 # of chain
135x5, 185 2x3, 225x3, 255x3, 275x1
add 4 board
315x3, 345x1, 375x1, 390xmiss
add catapult
390x3

A1 db bench
70 3x15

A2 low cable rows 120 3x12

sled drag Y+T 3x

ez curls and pushdowns

Carb back loading update

During my last deload (week of the SPF Women's PRO/AM) I finished my prep phase for Carb Backloading (CBL). Now I have been eating that way for over a year but when we started we have few details and started very simple. We got results and peaked at about 6 months. At that point I did not progress any more until the CBL ebook came out. That was late in 2011.

Since the start my body weight has only dropped nine pounds but my waist has dropped three and a half inches. My strength is the same or better and best off I just look better. I think this is a fairly easy way to live and lean out. You can cheat and not feel too bad and get back on track fairly easily. I still have a long way to go but eating pretty much what I want, getting leaner and stronger it is a no brainer. If you look at the ebook you will go it is $80 that is crazy and just forget it. I think the ebook comes with lifetime updates and you get access to a forum where you can get help from other back loaders. It also sounds too good to be true but I promise you it is not. This is the way my wife and I live. This is not a diet but a lifestyle.

If you need more proof check out how my wife has transformed. This is her article on dangerously hardcore.

Max effort bench April 1 2012

My carb backloading is tightening up and body weight is down to 239 but my strength is still up. I will be doing a prep phase starting Tuesday though my deload week. This is going to suck but will fine tune things and jump start more progress.

Max effort upper
Floor press w/ fat gripz
273x3, 310x2, 340x1, 360x1 (close to a floor press all time record)

4 board
310x3, 360x3, 390x3, 409x1

A1 grenade rear band flys x15,15,20,20

A2 reverse average band rows  4x12

B1 pushdowns on dip machine 3x15

B2 curls on cable machine 3x12

B3 front raise with 45 pounds plate 3x12

Monday

Knee is feeling decent. Still minimal swelling is at bay and I feel like quad strength is getting a little better.

Giant camber bar goodmornings.
185x3, 225x3, 275x1, 315x1, 365x1

Felt good to go heavier even though this is only 60% of an all time record but I know I am keeping some strength.

A1 Pulldown abs 200 3x12

A2 curls 25 3x12

A3 band hip work x20, 15, 20, 15 (2 different seat heights)

B1 tkes 3x8
B2 skipped neck harness

Time for day two of low carbs.

APF IL state meet.

It has been since October 2007 since my last full meet. Since then (Sept 2009) I packed up my equipment out in Buffalo brought it to Indiana and put it in storage. So it was time to get back to competing. I wanted to make getting back in as easy as possible so I decided to weigh whatever my body wanted on meet day and just lift. Not even thinking about personal records just get good solid lifts on the board and go for a total. I felt that all in all I could possibly total 2000 if I put everything together. My strength was very close and if I did everything right meet day this could happen. Well Not everything went as planned but there were some glimmers of hope among the chalk and dust.

So Saturday I weighed in at 111.7 kg (246)

Sunday after driving 45 minutes to the meet site I warmed up for the squat and all went well and I felt pretty good. I have been working on my squat for for the last 3 months. I took a few steps backward knowing that it will help me to move forward faster in the future. I have a strong back and week hamstring and I squat that way. I lean forward rather than being upright and sitting into my hamstrings. This is still a work in progress and I know it is better than before I just need to display it.

So I opened at 717 in the squat knowing that on a bad day this is doable. Well On my first attempt it was not doable. I missed half way up. My form was good but no pop out of the hole. I was so afraid of missing on depth that I did not tighten my straps on my suit and so I missed. Now in a powerlifting meet missing your first squat is not a good sign....especially when you miss like that.

So 2nd attempt I take it again but with my straps cranked. It is good. I am in the meet so the pressure is off a bit. But it was much harder than it should have been as I went back to old habits an leaned forward rather than staying upright. But I am in the meet.

3rd attempt I go to 766. This is a bit off of the 800 I needed to get my 2k but I will build for my total. I sit it down there and my wife calls me up. It is good two to one. The squat was borderline but the judges called it good so why would I argue.

Time for a break and then on to normally my worst lift of the three. The bench has been my arch enemy since I started powerlifting. I have never put up a huge bench and not even close to cracking the top 100 in my weight class. By comparison I have hit 20th in the deadlift when I weighed 220.

So I open extremely light but heavy enough to touch easily. 445 came down easy and came up even easier. Again I am in the meet. My wife was shocked to see it come up so easy so we called for 473. Again nice and easy. It was a little out of the groove but still a much need improvement on past meets. So we called 501 and planned to hit what I wanted. Just like the first two it was easy and a pr bench in a full meet.

Now on to the deadlift, my ace in the hole. I am built to pull but have disappointed in the past dropping 700 more than a few times due to grip. Again a light opener at 617. It got way out in front but light enough to pull back in with no problem. If all went well I was going to take 685 for either a pr total of 1985 or 700 for a 2k total. Well the 2k was out the window so I will try for a pr total. To set that up I took 672. My setup was bad and loaded up my right side for some reason. I still pulled it and got 3 white lights. So what do I do at this point try to build upon my total that was sitting at 1939 or go for the pr total. Well I came for a pr total and I tried for it. I called 713 for my 3rd attempt. That was a eight pound deadlift pr and would give me a small meet total pr.

So on my 3rd attempt I made a mistake. I let my handlers talk me into using nose tork and I had not used any all day. Well it lit up my right nostril and right eye. It was hard to see out of that right eye even after I attempted to pull the deadlift. It was a mistake but I am not sure I would have even pulled the deadlift. I was set up poorly and the weight set to the right side.

Overall I was pleased with the meet but I left a few pounds on the platform. I am going to take a shot at redeeming myself in about 10 weeks. I have a few things I am going to try over the next 5 weeks then decide if I am gong to enter APF SR. nationals of skip it. I do have to give a huge thanks to my wife and Nick Detman for helping out a stranger.

Here is the video of my good bad and ugly lifts.

TWIT - This week in training Dec 17- Dec 20 2010

Friday
Speed squat with green band
225 x2
275 2×2
315 x2
365 x1
405 x1
455 x1

I narrowed my stance a bit like I was told and felt off a bit. Still having a hard time keeping lats tight through the whole squat. I am going to try and move the bar up some and open my stance a little.

Here is a video of the squatting and some goodmornings from Monday.



Saturday
bench 225 6×3
neutral grip pullups 6, 6, 6, 5, 5, 4, 4, 4
dips 5×12
Y+T 15 3×20
curls ?


Monday - deload week
Dec 20
GHR 5x10 (raised 8 inches)
back to back with sled drag with strap between legs 90# 5x50 yards

Long strap hypers 270 x8, 360 2x8. I might have done 3 at 360 but can't remember.
back to back with sled dragging holding straps behind the knees 90 3x50 yards

trx ab fall outs 2x8
and plank x2

TWIT This week in training Dec 13- Dec 15 2010

Monday Dec 13

Max effort lower

Suspended good mornings with straight bar. Sorry about the weights being in kilo’s. The wifes place only has bumper plates. Used a wide stance

60kgx5, 80kgx5, 100kgx5, 120kgx5, 140kgx3, 160kgx1, 180kgx1, close stance 140×3

I tried to be super strict on these and not rock into them. Still not sure what way is better for max effort.

ghr raised 8 inches 4×10, 2×5

pull throughs 4×12

pulldown abs with green band – feet staggered 4×20

neck harness 35 2×12


Wed Dec 15 2010

Max effort bench

Camber bar bench to 2 board
135 2×5
185 2×5
225 x 3
add 2 board
275 x 1
295 x 1 slow off the board but no pain. Still about 10-12% down from my best but thins are moving along

Oh press
135×5 - a little pain
145×5 - less pain
155×5 - almost none
185×3 - wow that was hard

db rows 110 4×12
lying tates 60 5×12
db powercleans 15 3 x 12
ez bar curls ?
lying ext rotator 10 2×12

Training log with video

Friday Dec 3

Speed squat with green band 275 3x2, 315 3x2

speed deadlift sumo
with monster mini 315 2x1,
add 2 set of chain 315 6x1
conventional 315 w/ monster mini 2x1



Green band leg curls x50
short strap hypers 180 3x12
decline situps 50 4x10


Sunday Dec 5

Bench 225 2x5
neutral grip pull ups 5x5
dips 3x8
y + t 4x12 each way
barbell curls - till pumped

My shoulder held up pretty good this week and I have little pain pressing. I still have some pain right after a set of squats but I hope with time it goes away.

Training log update.

Things are coming around for the meet on the 25th.

Sunday 4/5/09
bench 135, 185, 225, 275, 315x2, 335x2, 355x1, 375xmiss
add shirt 405 2 boardx1, 455 1 boardx1, 495xtouch with head raise x1

rotator bar pulldowns 5x12
rotator bar face pulls 4x15
pushdowns 5x8

Monday 4/6/09
Speed squat with ssb 335 7x2
Speed deadlift 505 7x2



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4Mz1JDESHo

Roller reverse hypers 140 x10, 190 4x10

Afternoon session
green band pull thrus 5x12 with 15 seconds between sets

situps on ghr 25 4x10

sled drag 2 plates with straps held behind knees 2x200ft

backward drag 3 plates 2x200ft

Training log update

The last few weeks have been pretty busy and crazy for me so I apologize for not keeping up on my log. To catch you up I had a visit to Westside barbell the weekend of the Arnold where I pulled 585 off pin two against quad monster mini bands using a conventional stance. We did two weeks of a blue band and then deloaded thinking we were going to do circa max.

We changed the meet that we are doing so we are scrapping circa max since we are not squatting at this meet, but wil still push up our speed work. So here are the last few workouts.

3/6
Friday at Westside

Pin 2 rack pulls against quad monster minis. Conventional stance
135, 225, 315, 365, 405, 455, 495, 545, 585x1 started to loose my grip at the top
605xmiss

reverse hyper with extra traction. 3x8
hyper with weight behind feet 3x8
glute hams 2x8


afternoon
gravity crunch, more glute hams, kettlebell swings working up to 40kg 2x12

3/11

Deload upper

db bench 40, 60, 80, 100 2x12
face pulls green band 2x12
tates 40 and mini 5x12
prowler walk 2 plates each side 2x 50 steps


afternoon
curls
pulldown abs
pull ups

3/13

Max effort lower deload week

hamstring goodmornings 135 2x8
poor man back attack 4x12
side bends 80 4x12
sled drags 3 plates 10x100ft

3/15

Max upper deload
Illegal wide bench 135, 185, 225, 275x6
bradford press 135 4x8
Fat DD t bar rows 3 plates 3x12
Rolling dumbell extensions on the floor 40 2x8, 50 3x8

3/16

Wife went back to work today after materninty leave so I had to cut my morning workout short.

SSB with purple band over plates. 365 5x2
deadlift with plates 1/2 inch lower than feet 245, 335, 435, 475, 525, 565, 615x1 First time deadlifting in this suit and not bad. Still a little beat up from last couple of weeks.

pull thrus 4x8 130-150 and some added tension with a mini band.


Afternoon

Done in a circuit 3 times

reverse hypers short strap 330 3x12
overhead keg lunges 3x6 each leg
judo throw pulldown abs with green band 3x8 each side



belt dragging 3 plates and a quater 10x100ft

3/18

Speed bench 185 and mini band 9x3

db press 80x12, 100x12, 12, 20 ties a rep record for 3 sets. If I would have know I would have done one more.

pull ups x5, 4, 4, 3 all different grips

tates with mini band behind back. 45x12, 50 x12, 12, 12, 10

piston face pulls - purple band each hand 3x15

bb curls 70 3x12


Afternoon
shoulder traction
external rotators 3x15
pushdowns 2x12
foam roller situps 2x12 8kg kettlebell each hand

3/20

Deadlift standing on 2 inch plaform
135, 225, 275, 315, 365, 405, 455, 495, 545, 595, 615x1

Video of pulls and good mornings.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6blEpN6wBY

camber bar goodmornings 225x8, 315x8, 405x6

green band leg curls single leg 3x12

pull down abs 3x12

3/21

3 board bench with 3 chain per side. 135, 185, 225, 275, 295, 315, 335x1

far bar 6 board 275, 315, 365x8, 405x6

bradford press 95, 135, 155 2x8

t bar rows with fat DD handle 135 4x12

dumbell extensions on floor 50 5x10



That should bring you up to speed. If you have any questions about my training send me a message. Thanks.

Training log update

2/25/09 Speed bench

Speed bench 2 chain 185 6x3
Pin press while laying on floor 225, 315, 405, 455, 495x5
incline JM press 185 2x6
dumbell overhead press 50 2x15
fat man rows against mini band 4x8
hammer curls 4x8




2/27/09 Max effort lower

Free squat 145, 195 add briefs, 255, 345, 395, 435, add suit straps down, 545, 635x2, 685 2x2

Here is the video of todays squatting.



rackable camber bar goodmornings 135, 225, 315, 405x6, 315x8
poor man back attack 2x12
superset with short strap hypers 140 2x20


Afternoon session
16kg kettlebell front squats with heels elevated 2x8
side bends 80 4x10