Pre-juice 5x5: Darkness on the Horizon

[Cynical Simian]

Week 6 -- THURSDAY

Frustrating day

Deadlifts warmups, 325x3, 375x2, 415x2, 445x1 (technically a PR but I've tripled w/ 435, so this isn't something to get excited about), 465xfail, 465xfail, 425xfail
Bench 5x5 warmups, 295(PR)
Pendlay rows 5x5 warmups, 275(PR)

A bit of assistance really seems to have altered what constitutes a frustrating day. Congrats on the PRs.

Dropping the weight on deads seems like a good call. Given the progress thus far, you could probably keep getting PRs while learning/perfecting your new technique, but you'll probably make better overall progress on both fronts with this plan.

 

[Guinness5.0]

A bit of assistance really seems to have altered what constitutes a frustrating day.

I am obsessed with gettng my deadlift above 500. It's funny, but my bench is shooting up and I'm pretty blase about it. I'd be thrilled if my bench eeked up slowly while my dead/squat soared. Guess I'm getting old

EDIT: Another reason it was frustrating was that the 20 pound jump from 445 to 465 may have well been 200 pounds by the feel of it - 445 was tough but I was damn near 100% sure that 465 was going up.

 

[majutsu]

Excellent job! Damn, your bench IS getting strong. I really need to start benching more; I can't let you catch up . . . This is good! You are doing a great job. This is starting to motivate me. (And it's my progress that's really important not yours). Also, your tempo on your squats and your form is really tight. I admire your squat smoothness. My squat has a heavy special olympics flavor, or as my son puts it, "I think your being attacked by squat goblins."

Do you have any deadlift videos? Maybe we could check them out. I'd like to see it or direct me upwards if I missed a recent clip now that you're getting so strong.

 

[siamesedream]

Awesome job, man! This thread is an awesome read and congrats on the progress!!!

 

[Cynical Simian]

direct me upwards if I missed a recent clip now that your getting so strong.

http://www.elitefitness.com/forum/showpost.php?p=5653116&postcount=113

 

[majutsu]

Thanks for the link.

You know, G5. The thing I see is that you are using your lower back mostly. You aren't really recruiting your hamstrings or hip extensors. This is fine. And you can certainly do this. But you could put put up a hundred pounds more if you use your hammies. This would be a powerlifter style dead lift and not the more conventional dead you are doing. Basically, you pull back, leveraging your body against the bar. So it's like you are going to fall straight back on your ass. But the weight's so heavy you don't fall back, the compromise path is up instead.

Take my advice for what it's worth. My dead is my best thing at 505. My squat is 405 and my bench is 335. So you totally are my same strength except I seem to deadlift well naturally. Your body isn't really built well for deads, but you look like a tank and can certainly improve. Go to the powerlifter subforum for even more expert advice. I would post there too and get tips. You are right on the cusp.

Great thread and great job!

 

[c3bodybuilding]

Wow, you do keep a detailed record. I thought you were kidding, lol. This is awesome and a good way for others to learn. I read all 8 pages. It's amazing to see all the progress you are making. Your dead numbers are getting up there. Awesome brother, keep the fire going!

 

[Guinness5.0]

Thanks for the link.

You know, G5. The thing I see is that you are using your lower back mostly. You aren't really recruiting your hamstrings or hip extensors.

I totally agree with you on this. My back is always toasted after dl's but my legs feel fine, which is normal to some degree I suppose but the few times I've recruitedd hams/hips I've definitely noticed a difference. I'm still tweaking my form, which is pretty dumb given that I'm on a cycle. But hey, nobody's perfect I'll try the 'leaning back' feeling. You're not the first person to mention that as a reference. And I agree that there's no reason other than technique that my dead shouldn't be quite a bit stronger.

This is awesome and a good way for others to learn.

I hope other people can get something out of it. I read my past logs occasionally and being detailed is very helpful in remembering nuances and seemingly minor stuff that ends up making a difference. And thanks for the kind words.

BTW I’m switching to daily injections - same dose, just half as much, twice as often. I’ve been reading that tren ace. is best when shot ED. We’ll see if it helps…

 

[blut wump]

I just took another look at the 325x5 squatting video from the 2nd. It's amazing that over the past year we've come to a state where we could consider criticizing your form on that squat. As madcow noticed, your heel raises on a couple of the reps but I can no longer see any rump curl. A year ago I'd have viewed anyone squatting like that as being a bit "out there" and now we take it for granted. I'm not sure what my point is. Thanks, again, to madcow, I guess.

I think my deadlift is very similar in form to yours and I feel it a lot in my lower back. I try to get my shoulders behind the bar but whenever I fail to think about it they slip over or in front of the bar. I must take some vids.

 

[Jim Ouini]

Well we have higher standards for G5.0

Also, from your other thread:

Just use the mental key of keeping the weight back and driving off the heel (up not forward). As the bar moves up the weight should become more normally distributed over the entire foot but the heel should never come up and even at the top the weight should be center or just slightly ahead.

I think this will help me, I may be try staying on my heels too long on the way up and I that's where my sticking point is. I mean, quads get you from parallel to lockout, right? So it's better if the weight is distributed more evenly at this point, not so much on my heels.