Feeling Undiminished, Blut Attempts Restoration

[blut wump]

I like the idea of the behind the neck PP. It sounds like an isolation exercise to take my arms out of the movement but it'll force me to learn how to apply the leg drive with moderate weights.

On my front squats, despite being a rookie with the clean grip, I feel comfortable with it except for the strain on my wrists. I'm assuming that'll go with improved flexibility. I'm not pushing stressful weights with the movement yet, though. I've been over 50 lbs heavier with a cross-grip.

On a PP with a wider grip, I can't seem to apply the leg-drive well at all. I get much more from my legs with a more narrow grip. For a strict press, I like to have my hands out on the rings.

 

[blut wump]

Intensity - Week 3 Day 1

Another searing hot day here. I started my workout around 7:30pm. It was still hot but that was about my limit of waiting.

Squats felt a lot stronger today than last week. The set at 160 was rock solid. I'd used a wider stance than usual and it felt good. Not a lot wider just a bit of a shuffle outwards with the feet. I had intended 160x3x3 but was feeling knackered with the heat so decided I wasn't keen on all that volume.

Instead I added another 10Kg to go to 170.5. With the collars, I realised that I only needed a single for a PR. The first rep was solid, the second touch and push, the third felt a bit high but I'd swear there was some grazing of hammy and calf. I don't think I'd have managed the last rep without the GM work to straighten up my torso. As it was, I slowed slightly but had no doubts that it was going up. 170.5Kg x 3 PR.

I guess that answers Nelm's question about whether one can expect to keep gains from a cycle.

I went for MP today. The last rep was a real grind and scream.

After that I was hot and sticky and hungry so stopped. I'm neglecting a lot of my lifting to keep fresh for the squats and wussing out with the heat. I'm going to try to get some BB rows in tomorrow and, maybe, some BTN pressing.

Thanks, again, BiggT.

All weights in Kilos, +.5Kg unless just the bar
Squats
20x10, 30x10, 60x5, 90x3, 120x3, 135x3x3
20x10, 30x10, 60x5, 90x3, 120x3, 140x3, 142.5x3, 145x3, 60x10
20x10, 30x10, 60x5, 90x3, 120x3, 140x2, 150x3x3, 100x8
20x10, 30x10, 60x5, 90x3, 120x3, 135x3, 150x3, 160x3, 100x10
20x10, 30x10, 60x5, 90x3, 120x3, 135x2, 150x1, 160x1, 165x0
20x10, 30x10, 60x6, 90x3, 120x3, 140x3, 152.5x3, 162.5x3
20x10, 30x10, 60x5, 100x3, 125x3, 145x3, 160x3, 170x3
MP
20x10, 40x6, 60x3, 72.5x3, 77x5x3

 

[Jim Ouini]

Congrats on the squat PR. Made it all the way back and then some.

Will you be trying for 4 plates this go around?

 

[blut wump]

I don't have 8 plates to do it with so it'll have to be a nominal 4 plates made up in change.

There's no good reason to stop. I'm planning to try again with 175 at the end of the week.

 

[blut wump]

Intensity - Week 3 Day 2

The front squats felt a bit heavier than I was expecting. Maybe I'm still getting used to the grip. Solid enough but they just felt harder than expected.

GMs were fine. I could have gone heavier on the final sets but am wary of taking too much away from Friday's squats.

I finally got some sort of pull back into a workout. I flew through the rows fairly briskly but I'm sure I'm a fair bit weaker in them than I was towards the end of the last 5x5.

Overall, I was happy with this workout. The front squat and GM combo always makes my back feel healthy.


All weight in Kilos, +.5Kg unless just the bar. Previous weeks in orange
Front Squats
20x10, 30x10, 60x5, 80x3 for 5 sets
20x10, 30x10, 60x5, 80x3, 90x3, 100x3x3
20x10, 30x10, 60x5, 80x3, 100x3 for 5 sets
20x10, 30x10, 60x5, 90x3, 115x3 for 5 sets
GM
20x10, 40x5, 60x3, 90x3 for 5 sets
60x8, 80x6, 100x3, 105x3, 110x3x3
60x8, 80x5, 100x3, 110x3x3, 120x3
60x8, 90x5, 110x3, 115x3, 120x3x3
BB Row
60x6, 80x3, 90x3, 100x3x3

 

[blut wump]

Ad-Hoc Workout

I didn't feel up to squatting today so just decided to play with some OH squats. I've not done them at all since before Christmas and then only for fun at the end of the odd workout. The broom handle was rock solid so I moved on to the bar. When I reached 40Kg, which is a PR, I was tending to lose the bar due to its drifting forwards. It stayed in place nicely for the fifth set so I decided that was enough.

The BTN presses were uncomfortable coming back down. I scraped the back of my neck on one; hit a bone on another etc. By the end of the set at 60Kg, my arms had that unpleasant ache running through them so I stopped.

Interesting and kind of fun. The OH squat went better than expected.

Weights in Kilos. +0x5Kg unless just the bar (or broom).
Squats
20x10, 30x10, 60x5
OH Squats
BroomHandle x 10, 20x5, 20x5, 30x5, 40x1,5,3,2,5
BTN Press
40x5. 50x5, 60x3

 

[blut wump]

On another note, I finally ordered a power rack and bench.
Power Rack: http://www.fitness-superstore.co.uk/__12_product_info3_asp1_5_prdID4_59497.html
Bench: http://www.fitness-superstore.co.uk/__12_product_info3_asp1_5_prdID4_33257.html

It's about time I got the rack. I seem to have taken to home workouts, heat-wave willing, and can't say that I miss the gym. This should allow me to start benching again.

Once my bench is back up to speed, I'm probably going to start another aas cycle so I need to think about what program to run with it. I'm intending Test(12 weeks) + Deca(9 weeks). Pretty much the same Test as last time at 250 mg every 4 days of enan. Deca at 100 mg every four days, mostly to see what difference it makes to the joints. I'm thinking of adding an oral to start but might not.

 

[anotherbutters]

I'm envious of that rack. I can't get one until I move house next. I'm sure you'll tell us what you think of it

So you've been bitten by the lure of the dark side again, eh? Will that be in another couple of months after a training cycle to get your bench back up again?

EDIT: I just looked on ebay for powertec equipment and found this. Wow. I think it could do with direction signs on it, so you know which way to walk around to get to your next exercise.

 

[Jim Ouini]

That thing is garish. I can't imagine the assembly required to get that thing going.

 

[the-short-one]

On another note, I finally ordered a power rack and bench.
Power Rack: http://www.fitness-superstore.co.uk/__12_product_info3_asp1_5_prdID4_59497.html
Bench: http://www.fitness-superstore.co.uk/__12_product_info3_asp1_5_prdID4_33257.html

It's about time I got the rack. I seem to have taken to home workouts, heat-wave willing, and can't say that I miss the gym. This should allow me to start benching again.

Once my bench is back up to speed, I'm probably going to start another aas cycle so I need to think about what program to run with it. I'm intending Test(12 weeks) + Deca(9 weeks). Pretty much the same Test as last time at 250 mg every 4 days of enan. Deca at 100 mg every four days, mostly to see what difference it makes to the joints. I'm thinking of adding an oral to start but might not.

Have you used Deca before for joint pain? I've read that it lubricates your joints, thereby eleviating the pain - but doesn't heal inflamation, or whatever it is that is causing the pain...

oh, nice power rack. I'm very happy that you decided to get one.