Redline Realization/deload week

Stress has been tough and training has been tougher. I needed a week to recover but allow my training to catch up so I can continue to push forward. Body weight is all over the place. From 241 down to 237. Working to get my eating in order to keep recovering.

4/21

Superset 20/15/10 reps

A1 Glute ham raise

A2 short strap reverse hypers 205

Front squat continuous pump sets. I tried to not lock these out 105x25, 115x20

Serrano split squat drop set 

120# chain x4, 60# of chain x4, body weight x4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1PaPOrUiv0

Occluded TKE 1x50

4/23

Steep incline dumbbell press 80 3x15

Bradford+1 95 2x8, rest pause x5, 3, 3(20 seconds rest)

A1 Arnold press 15x20, 20x20, 15x20

A2 tates (flat) 40 3x12

Side raise partials 30x50

4/24

TKE 2x15

Ghr 21’s x1, up 11 inches x1 (fail on last rep), on floor but foot plate moved up 1 notch – fail on 3 full rep.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ow14m2KrJ1g

Stiff leg deadlift 315 4x6

Leg curls with light elitefts band 40, 30, 20, 10

Split squat drop set 40#x20, 20#x15, bwx10, 40#x12, 20#x6, bwx5

4/26

Bench press

275x1, 315x1, 225x22 PR

Alternating dumbbell overhead press 40x10, 45 3x12

A1 Alternating dumbbell extension 40 3x10

B1 barbell curls 65 4x10

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 - 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 Detroit meet prep - 7 weeks out

After my last bench session both shoulders were really ate up.  So I had to play things by ear.

9/16 Rep lower

GHR
3x8

box squat
235x3
265x3
295x11
325x1
350x1
375x1

My best box squat post surgery. Knees were achy but I did feel strong.

back raise
60 2x12

calf raise
situps on ghr

9/17
No pressing - Shoulders still hurt.

JM press
95 3x6

serrano ohp
12 2x12

tates
45 3x12

pushdowns
4x10

9/18 upper assistance 
scap rows + tbar rows 4x12

Sled t and y

9/19 Lower max effort

bodyweight 237

isometric deadlift and CAT deadlift
2x against pin 2 and 2x pin 3

CAT - 465 + 2 pair of chain.

9/21 max effort upper
shoulders are slightly better. Good enough to do something.

Steep incline
205x3
225x1
255x1
280x1
295xmiss

DB press with light band around back
80x12, 100x12

A1 rear delt rows
30 4x25

A2 rolling db ext
45 4x12

serrano ohp
db 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

Training log up to meet

The last month has been busy as I was getting ready for my meet, I let my gym membership run out and started to train more at my wife's place.

So Here is what I did up until the meet.

2/16

Sled drag
behind the knees 90 3x50 yards
rear fly 45 3x50 yards

Roller hyper 225 4x8
leg curls on hyper 90 3x10
situps on ghr 3x10

2/17

reverse band purple
185x5
225x5
275x3
315x3
335x3
365x1
385x1
405 3x1

pin press 1 inch
315x5
365x5
405x5
455x5
495x5

A1 sled drag Y+T 3x50 yards
A2 rolling db ext 45 4x8

B1 barbell rows 185 4x12
B2 band pullaparts 4x20

curls

2/20

Drove an hour to get to a monolift. Band tension was a little lower due to a smaller base but it has been over 2 years since I have done circa max and 2 yars since I used a mono so I will just go with it.

16 inch box with blue and green band

briefs
135x2
185x2
225x2
275x1
add suit bottoms no belt
315x1
add belt
365x1
405x1
455x1
495x1

roller hyper 4 plates 3x8

Over all I was happy wth my squatting but was having issues unracking the bar and hunching rather than arching into it. You can tell on 495. It was a 40# jump but felt like it was 100#s. I have one or two more sessions in the mono before the meet so I can iron these things out.

Video of week 1 circa max


2/22

Sunday
speed bench with mini
135 3x3
155 9x3

Knee was giving me fits and could not get comfortable on the bench.

bradfords
95 3x20

pushdowns 3x10
elbow out db rows 35 3x15
neutral grip pull ups 5x3

2/25

Tuesday
Don't remember everything I did.

Long strap hypers
6 plates 3x10
7 plates 3x10

sled drag behind knees
3 x 50 yards

pulldown abs with stagger stance purple band
3x15

I know there was more to it but I really can't remember

Thursday
floor press

308x1
330x1
352x1
308x4 (mats were slipping out from under me)

tates 50 6x8

bb rows 185 3x12

2/28 (posted on another log so I don't have all the dates correct)

Saturday
Knee has been swollen the whole last week and I am not sure if it was from the squatting last Saturday or the benching on Sunday but it was pretty swollen all week. But I decided to squat as this is circa max.

Got up early as I had a 1 hour window to use a monolift about an hour away. I was 55 minutes into my drive and less than a mile away fromt he gym and my car starts to misfire and almost dies. I totally bonked and reverted back to my old squat style and was leaning much more that last week. Not sure if it was the knee or just me just doing things wrong.

circa max squat
Blue and green band
16 inch box and worked up to 365 3x2

At that point the owner had to leave so I drove to the garage to have my car worked on.

Sunday
Speed bench + mini
135 5x3, 155 7x3

bradfords
95 x16
135 x20,20,16

pushdowns
3x10

curls

Monday
goodmornings
225 2x5

long strap hypers
8 plates 4x8

ghr 2x8 (bothering knee)

sled drag behind the knees
2 plates x 50 yards
2.5 plates 3x30 yards

side bends 70 5x10

back raises x15 x12

3/3

Thursday

Bench
135x5
185x5
225x3
275x2
315x1

3 board 365x1

add shirt
405 x3

445 2x1
455 x1

Felt more comfortable in the shirt today. Bench is coming back and I will need every pound to keep my total from being real bad. I am hoping at the next meet I am back to where I was before I moved.

4 board
315x5
365x5
405x1

neutral grip pulldowns
160 4x8

rotator bar face pulls
3x20


3/7

I felt terrible and my knee was bothering me some. My good briefs we in the other car so I put on sold old briefs that are used up and about 2 sizes too big.

box squat 275 3x2

speed deadlift 315 3x1, 365 3x1

Almost wish I would have not even squatted but I cant change that now.

short strap hypers 6 plates 3x10
pulldown abs 3x10
single leg rdls 70 # dumbells 3x8 each leg.

Sunday
speed bench
185 3x5
205 3x5

tricep death (2,3,4) boards
225, 275 3 reps each board
315 2 reps on 2 boards as the wife switched too early. Then did 3 reps on 3 and on 4 boards.

single arm cable rows 4x8
rear fly 15 3x15
dips 4x10
db curls

3/8

Monday
Pulled my opener. I will pull in my briefs as I feel much more comfortable and get into a better position.

Since the plates are in kilos i only know the last 3 weights
533
573
617

roller hypers
4 plates 4x10

leg curls on hyper 88 4x8

band pull aparts 2x50

abs against ghr with green band 3x12



3/14

Not much going on the last week. Been trying to rest up as I have a cold now and hope for all signs of it to be gone by the weekend. As far as training goes there has been nothing to write about and I have not felt like doing anything. I will update after the meet this weekend.

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 update

My training has picked up the last 2 weeks. My schedule is close to normal so training has been pretty good. I will say the last few months have not been good to my bench. I am close to setting records but my lockout strength has really suffered and I need to really bring it up if I expect to bench anything good.

Work on
bench - triceps/lockout
squat/deadlift - hips/hamstrings

I will give you the video first then you can see the specific workouts below.



3/28
Illegal wide bench worked up to 120 kg x 8

jm press 60kg 2x8, 70kgx8
band pushdowns 3x10
db rows 70 3x12

curls 3x10
band pull aparts 3x12
jump rope x200


3/29
Deadlift while standing on 2 inch blocks
445, 495, 535, 585, 605x1

front squat 185x5, 205x5, 225x5
single leg hypers 90 3x10

green band leg curls 3x10
decline situps 25 3x8

3/31
Had to push training forward one day due to other stuff going on this week. Should have just done some rep stuff but I decided to do 4 board anyway. I was still sore and everything felt heavy. I still hit 90% of my best so I will take it.

225x3, 275x1 add 4 board 315, 365x1, 385x1, 405x1, 425x1, 455 miss

oh press 125x5, 145x5, 165x5
chuck V pulldowns 140 2x10, 160 4x10o
preacher curls 5 5x10
neck harness 2x12

Tates 55/60 x 10, 10, 10, 8, 8
-Thought I had 2 55's but I had one 55 and one 60. I did not notice until I was done with 3 sets. So I just switched hands and did 2 more sets.


4/2
Speed squat ssb + green band on foam pad 275 6x2, 315 2x2

rdl 225 4x6
manual leg curl 2x6
pulldown abs 4x8

prowler 90# 10x30 yards

4/6
good mornings with straight bar.
225, 275, 315, 365, 405x3, 435x2 could have done another but my mid back did not feel right.

front squat 185x3, 225x3, 245x2
hypers single leg - 2x10 90, double 180 2x10
green band leg curls 3x12
decline situps 3x8

prowler 10x30 yards 90#s

4/7
Metal Militia reverse band green deload about 160#s at chest but all gone at the top.
225x3, 275x3, 315, 365, 405, 435x1, 465xmiss

oh press 135x3, 155x3, 175x3
chuck v pulldowns 140 5x12
tates 60 4x8
preacher curls 80? 3x10
shrugs 225 3x12

Coaching Cues: Chest Up/Out

Many exercises that we use on a daily basis involve some type of position where your chest should be out and shoulders should be somewhat retracted. Over the years, I've heard people use various cues when squatting, saying things like "head up", "head back" or "drive your head back in the bar". While those are great cues for more advanced lifters who might have a good sense of body awareness, I find those cues can be very vague to some athletes or newbies to lifting. Especially if they are visual learners, which I find many athletes are. Putting them in the right position can really make a big difference in how they fix their technique.

Let me explain.

Most of the athletes we come across are new to lifting. And even if they have some lifting experience, they just think about "moving the weight" rather than being in the right position. I've found that certain cues can really help an athlete understand their position and learn to feel when it's wrong and when it's right.

Here are a few exercises that I use the words "Chest Up" or "Stick your chest out" for, and why I think it's helped.

SQUAT
When squatting, if you just say "head up", the athlete may look up towards the ceiling. And while that may naturally stick their chest out too, it doesn't necessarily put their upper back in the right position. If you say "chest out" or "chest up", the athlete can feel and see their chest sticking out, which also locks in their upper back, keeping them from hunching forward while squatting.

RDL
This is another exercise that can be tricky to learn. Many athletes lack the body awareness to pivot at the hips in this exercise. They either want to bend at the waist (causing a rounded back) or bend at the knees (resulting in a squat). And as they weight increases, it can easily pull an athlete's shoulders forward. That's why I use the cue "stick your chest out" or "chest out". Again, the athlete can see and feel their shoulders being locked into place. And while it doesn't automatically lock in their lumbar spine, it will make a big difference. If I see an athlete started to round out their lower back, I can usually use this cue and it will correct that.

Bench Press
Yes, even the bench press can benefit from this coaching cue. When an athlete lies on the bench very flat-backed, they have lost the ability to use their lats. When you coach them to have a big chest or "stick their chest out", that helps them retact the shoulder blades and automatically lifts their chest up, resulting in a shorter distance to move the bar. (A big benefit that can add major pounds to one's bench press!)

Deadlifting
This is especially good for sumo deadlifters, but conventional pullers can use this as well. When pulling sumo, many times the hips rise too soon, resulting in a stiff-legged deadlift. If you cue the athlete to have their "chest up/out", this can help lock in their upper and lower back and in turn, keep their hips closer to the bar. Keeping your hips close to the bar is crucial for sumo deadlifting.

So, there you have it. Sometimes you have to change a few words or try new cues to get an athlete to really understand what the correct position is. For me, this cue is one that is repeated often in my weight room.

Julia's Squatting Video

You can watch my box squatting from today here.

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 2/8/09-2/9/093

2/8/09 max effort bench

Metal Militia reverse band (blue)

225, 275, 315, 365, 405, 455, 505x1 (pr)

I flared my elbows to early. The set up may have something to do with this but I still got it.

Here is a video of the reverse bands. Also a training partner hitting a huge attempt at 635.




Floor press with 2 chain on each side
135, 185, 225x5, 275x2 (shouder was not happy after the reverse band)

dumbell rows 120 4x8
face pulls 110 2x12
skull crushers with ez curl bar 120 4x10
blast strap y+t 2x8 each direction
db curls 3 sets I wont tell the weight because it is that embarrasing.

2/9/09 speed squat

Speed squat with green band and 2 chain
315x2, 365x1, add suit on top of briefs 405 2x2, 455x2, 495x2

speed deadlift barweight 405x1, 455x1, 505 3x1

Video of the squatting and deadlifting


reverse hypers short strap outside of plates 240 4x12

kettlebell front squat
standing on decline.
8kg 3x12 as far down as I could go.

afternoon
ghr 3x8
ab wheel 3x8
green band arch back good mornings 3x12