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 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

Relentless meet prep - 9 weeks out

I was down for the count the last few days with a stomach bug. Weight dropped to about 231 and has not budged since. Even with carbs during the day. We will see what happens.

9/3  Dynamic effort upper

Speed bench with monster mini  155 6x5

185x1, 205x1

Db press

100x8, 130 x8,8,7,6

A1 klokov press 95 3x10

A2 incline bb extension 95x8, 115x8, 135x8

9/4 Upper assistance work

Meadows rows  75 4x12

Strip the rack ohp  3x6

Rotator pulldowns 2x12

9/5 Max effort lower

Ankle weight leg curls  2x12

Low box squat

Up to 355x1 – Stopped when my knee started to bother me. Had a little more left in the tank.

 I did a few other things but it was a mix of coaching Purdue barbell club and training. 

9/6 Max effort upper

Bench

225x5, 275x5, 315x5, 345x2

Add black catapult 365x2

Add silver catapult 385x2, 405x1 ½

Add single ply bash 425x2, 455x1, 495x1 (sloppy), add 1 ½ board 515x1

A1 Rolling db ext 60 3x10

A2 close grip pushups 4x8

9/7 Upper assistance

A1 sled Y+T  3x distance

A2 Keg (66#) ohp x8,10,12

Side raise with 5 second lower 12x12, 15x12, 20 2x12

Arnold press 25 2x12

Fat DD pulldowns 120 4x12

Fat gripz bb curls 3x12

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