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Pre-juice 5x5: Darkness on the Horizon
- Thread starter Guinness5.0
- Start date
Cynical Simian
New member
"Wicked pump"?!?! Tricep extensions?!?! This journal has really gone to hell... 
You summed up that "missed a rep" feeling pretty well in your bench comments, but a squat PR is good stuff. Congrats.
You summed up that "missed a rep" feeling pretty well in your bench comments, but a squat PR is good stuff. Congrats.
Last edited:
Guinness5.0
New member
Week 3 -- WEDNESDAY
Interesting day...
Front squat: 135x8, 185x5, 225x5x3
-I dunno about these being as easy as light backsquats - these kinda kick my ass, so I lowered the volume a shade. I had no difficulty racking 225 (sorry Jim
), so that's good.
Standing OHP: 170x5x4, x4
-Really surprised at this. I thought the gear was in effect and this would be cake. I was wrong on both counts.
Deadlift 5x5: 375
-OK here's where it gets interesting. For my last set I had a friend who is a competive BBer check my form. He told me some stuff and I was floored - he dabbled in powerlifting b/c of people who said BBers were pussies and has pulled 700 w/ only a belt, and squatted 650(ish - I forget the exact #) with a narrow stance. 275 lb weight class.
Anywho, he said that I was using WAY too much low back to initiate the pull. Not that I was rounding, but just not using my hips. He said that's prob. why the bottom of a pull is so hard for me - at most I should be using my back muscles to keep my arch, not to pull the weight up with 'em. I tried a couple singles w/ 375 and him coaching, and I think this is a serious breakthrough. My hams wre shaking during the pull, which suggests to me that this is the CNS 'learning' to fire some motor units differently (<--- anyone care to comment on this estimation?). So my low back really isn't weak, it's just being mismanaged. I'm thinking that I'll try triples next week and really work on getting my form perfect. Since I'm juiced and only deloading when I feel the need, I don't really see a problem with deviating a bit, especially for the sake of actually deadlifting correctly 
.
Pullups 5x5: BW
-complete brain fart after the DL revelation. Didn't even occur to me to add weight to 'em at the time.
Grip work: CoC #1 - 5 triples/hand, 2 one-minute static holds/hand
-It came and I'm surprised at how tough it is! I figured I'd be able to knock out sets of at least 7 or 8. Looks like #2 is gonna stay open for a while...
EDIT: I did 14 minutes of HIIT on Tues (warmup, 3 sprints up to 9 mph for ~1 minute each, cooldown) preceded by some active recovery squats w/ 135 and some OHP with the bar. After cardio I stretched. I also stretched after Weds. weights.
Interesting day...
Front squat: 135x8, 185x5, 225x5x3
-I dunno about these being as easy as light backsquats - these kinda kick my ass, so I lowered the volume a shade. I had no difficulty racking 225 (sorry Jim
), so that's good.Standing OHP: 170x5x4, x4
-Really surprised at this. I thought the gear was in effect and this would be cake. I was wrong on both counts.
Deadlift 5x5: 375
-OK here's where it gets interesting. For my last set I had a friend who is a competive BBer check my form. He told me some stuff and I was floored - he dabbled in powerlifting b/c of people who said BBers were pussies and has pulled 700 w/ only a belt, and squatted 650(ish - I forget the exact #) with a narrow stance. 275 lb weight class.
Anywho, he said that I was using WAY too much low back to initiate the pull. Not that I was rounding, but just not using my hips. He said that's prob. why the bottom of a pull is so hard for me - at most I should be using my back muscles to keep my arch, not to pull the weight up with 'em. I tried a couple singles w/ 375 and him coaching, and I think this is a serious breakthrough. My hams wre shaking during the pull, which suggests to me that this is the CNS 'learning' to fire some motor units differently (<--- anyone care to comment on this estimation?). So my low back really isn't weak, it's just being mismanaged
. I'm thinking that I'll try triples next week and really work on getting my form perfect. Since I'm juiced and only deloading when I feel the need, I don't really see a problem with deviating a bit, especially for the sake of actually deadlifting correctly .Pullups 5x5: BW
-complete brain fart after the DL revelation. Didn't even occur to me to add weight to 'em at the time.
Grip work: CoC #1 - 5 triples/hand, 2 one-minute static holds/hand
-It came and I'm surprised at how tough it is! I figured I'd be able to knock out sets of at least 7 or 8. Looks like #2 is gonna stay open for a while...
EDIT: I did 14 minutes of HIIT on Tues (warmup, 3 sprints up to 9 mph for ~1 minute each, cooldown) preceded by some active recovery squats w/ 135 and some OHP with the bar. After cardio I stretched. I also stretched after Weds. weights.
Jim Ouini
New member
Looking good G5.0. I hope the switch turns on with the deadlift, between the program and the 'creatine and NO2' you'll probably blow past your old PR.
I would've figured with Starting Strength in hand that your form was already dialed in, but there's nothing like someone who knows to watch and point and poke and prod. Good stuff.
I know when I've failed on a dead attempt I can't keep my arch and when that happens I'll bail out. So I've tried to do some strengthening there like RDL's and weighted hypers now...we'll see.
I may try for some singles just for fun to see what I can get up to.
It still blows mine away. I have no idea why mine is so weak (120). Anyone know what OHP should be in relation to bench?
I would've figured with Starting Strength in hand that your form was already dialed in, but there's nothing like someone who knows to watch and point and poke and prod. Good stuff.
I know when I've failed on a dead attempt I can't keep my arch and when that happens I'll bail out. So I've tried to do some strengthening there like RDL's and weighted hypers now...we'll see.
Guinness5.0 said:
I may try for some singles just for fun to see what I can get up to.
Guinness5.0 said:
It still blows mine away. I have no idea why mine is so weak (120). Anyone know what OHP should be in relation to bench?
blut wump
New member
It's been a while since I worked them on separate days but I OHP at around 60% of my bench, more with a push-press.
That sounds interesting about the deadlift. Definitely spend the time to dial it in if you felt an improvement in form.
I'm now up to 260 on front squat for 5 sets of 3 and I'm starting to feel a little concern for my cross-over grip. I think it'll bear one more 10lb bump before Christmas, though.
That sounds interesting about the deadlift. Definitely spend the time to dial it in if you felt an improvement in form.
I'm now up to 260 on front squat for 5 sets of 3 and I'm starting to feel a little concern for my cross-over grip. I think it'll bear one more 10lb bump before Christmas, though.
Guinness5.0
New member
Week 3 -- FRIDAY
Possibly the most frustrating workout ever. I was livid.
Squat: 135x8x2, 185x5, 225x5 275x5, 315x5x2
-So I squat wrong too. My BBer buddy said I have "duck butt", meaning at the bottom I rotate my hips so the bottom goes forward and the top goes back. I used to do it worse and thought I fixed it. His comment was unprompted, so obviously it's readily apparent. So I went down and held my arch tight, which felt different but I have to admit I think it's right - more hams/glutes, less low back involvement. It cost me a couple inches of depth, but I was still below parallel. Maybe I'll gain some flexibilty aling the way. Seriously I can't believe i've been lifting this long and just learned how to squat/DL. Irritating
Bench "5x5": warmup to 280x5, x4, quit
-pissed. Just plain pissed.
Power clean : 135x5, quit
-Back hurt pretty bad. Pissed.
Grip work : 5 triples/hand with CoC#1
-Def. stronger since last workout with it
I attempted to do HIIT cardio but I locked up three treadmills before I conceded that I was too heavy to use the POS treadmills at this gym at 9 mph. So I did 20 mins. of brisk walking, then stretched for a good ten minutes and left. Pissed.
Bitch/moan session: going on 20 hours now
-So I'm left wondering WTF I should do. I tend to think I'm in overreaching based on my bench "performance". I thought the gear would be in effect by now. I know it's real - the prop is leftovers from my last cycle (at the end of which I weighed 262 pounds) and I made the tren myself for the second time. I mean, I'm hard to rattle but I'm beside myself with frustration at the moment. I'm thinking that doing squats/deads properly will mean taking a dip in weight short term, and then watching 'em soar. So that's not such a big deal, but now my program is FUBAR at the moment.
I may switch over to Westside and see how that goes. Or I'll take it easy w/ a two-session week, then hit it hard again.
Also, I took some measurements just for grins and my arms are a bit over 17" (up 1/4" in 10 days), and my right thigh is at 28" (up 1"). I have ZERO visible bloat. So why the fuck is my strength down? Hopefully this is an anomaly, or I started the run too fatigued (which is probably it, really). But seriously, it's been ten days since I started my shots and I'd have thought the shit would be in full swing by now. It is a much lower dose then last time, but why hypertrophy and no strength? Oh yeah, my weight's up too - to 245 - and I'm eating less. Intercellular water gain?
I'm fuggin' LOST.
Possibly the most frustrating workout ever. I was livid.
Squat: 135x8x2, 185x5, 225x5 275x5, 315x5x2
-So I squat wrong too. My BBer buddy said I have "duck butt", meaning at the bottom I rotate my hips so the bottom goes forward and the top goes back. I used to do it worse and thought I fixed it. His comment was unprompted, so obviously it's readily apparent. So I went down and held my arch tight, which felt different but I have to admit I think it's right - more hams/glutes, less low back involvement. It cost me a couple inches of depth, but I was still below parallel. Maybe I'll gain some flexibilty aling the way. Seriously I can't believe i've been lifting this long and just learned how to squat/DL. Irritating
Bench "5x5": warmup to 280x5, x4, quit
-pissed. Just plain pissed.
Power clean : 135x5, quit
-Back hurt pretty bad. Pissed.
Grip work : 5 triples/hand with CoC#1
-Def. stronger since last workout with it
I attempted to do HIIT cardio but I locked up three treadmills before I conceded that I was too heavy to use the POS treadmills at this gym at 9 mph. So I did 20 mins. of brisk walking, then stretched for a good ten minutes and left. Pissed.
Bitch/moan session: going on 20 hours now
-So I'm left wondering WTF I should do. I tend to think I'm in overreaching based on my bench "performance". I thought the gear would be in effect by now. I know it's real - the prop is leftovers from my last cycle (at the end of which I weighed 262 pounds) and I made the tren myself for the second time. I mean, I'm hard to rattle but I'm beside myself with frustration at the moment. I'm thinking that doing squats/deads properly will mean taking a dip in weight short term, and then watching 'em soar. So that's not such a big deal, but now my program is FUBAR at the moment.
I may switch over to Westside and see how that goes. Or I'll take it easy w/ a two-session week, then hit it hard again.
Also, I took some measurements just for grins and my arms are a bit over 17" (up 1/4" in 10 days), and my right thigh is at 28" (up 1"). I have ZERO visible bloat. So why the fuck is my strength down? Hopefully this is an anomaly, or I started the run too fatigued (which is probably it, really). But seriously, it's been ten days since I started my shots and I'd have thought the shit would be in full swing by now. It is a much lower dose then last time, but why hypertrophy and no strength? Oh yeah, my weight's up too - to 245 - and I'm eating less. Intercellular water gain?
I'm fuggin' LOST.
blut wump
New member
The mood of your posts has changed this past week so I reckon you've had some emotional shift. Like you said, though, you've no doubt the gear is good so it has to be in effect.
How are you feeling generally? Any lethargy or are you feeling like superman? I was thinking about blood pressure but you reckon no bloat except that your weight is up. Are you running any ancillaries like arimidex, dostinex or proviron or any orals? Dunno, man, I hope you track it down.
How are you feeling generally? Any lethargy or are you feeling like superman? I was thinking about blood pressure but you reckon no bloat except that your weight is up. Are you running any ancillaries like arimidex, dostinex or proviron or any orals? Dunno, man, I hope you track it down.
