A Monkey with a Gun

[View 1]

Those workouts sound like zero fun. Even though your strength is down, it will get back up, good to see that your flexability is getting better. Look forward to see what else thay have you doing.

[Jorge Sanchez]

Really cool to see what you are doing, man. Keep it up and I look forward to reading more about it.

Thanks, J. It's nothing too exciting yet, but it's definitely different from what I've been doing.


It sounds as if they are trying to build your flexibility and conditioning first before moving on. Almost GPP if you will.

That's definitely a fair assessment. I can definitely use the work.


Those workouts sound like zero fun. Even though your strength is down, it will get back up, good to see that your flexability is getting better. Look forward to see what else thay have you doing.

Actually, I do enjoy them quite a bit. It's a different atmosphere than I'm used to.

[Jorge Sanchez]

Monday:

Clean 45 minutes:
Warm up
135x3

Notes: Head was just not in it. Was supposed to work up to a 3rm, but just did not have it in me. My coach sent me home early.

Tuesday:

Snatch for 45mins:
warm up
95x1 snatch + 3 overhead squats

Front squats 20 mins:
worked up to
195x3

Notes: The snatch and OH squats are both PRs. I still need to work on getting tight in the receiving position, but it's improving.

[Sidior]

PRs are PRs, nice work dude!

Tight in the receiving position eh? lol

[jbrin0tk]

Tight in the receiving position eh? lol



LOL! Good work, bud!

[Jorge Sanchez]

PRs are PRs, nice work dude!

Tight in the receiving position eh? lol


LOL! Good work, bud!

You perverts! I guess what I should have said was that I have a loose snatch ;).

Cleans 60 minutes:
Warm up
135x3

Hollow rocks 3

Squat jumps 3x10

Notes: decent workout. I just tried one of the ALN Novus bars and they are absolutely delicious. I'm seriously having a hard time resisting downing the rest of the box right now.

[jbrin0tk]

I know the feeling of wanting to down an entire box of something, lol. What are hollow rocks?

[View 1]

Congrats on the PR's, thats always a great feeling which reminds us why we even do this in the first place. I also am wondering what are hollow rocks?

[CrazyK]

They're putting you through some concise workouts. Great PR's, are you starting to see the quad development?

[ZenMonkey]

Nice stuff man! Youre gonna love the O lifting!

[Kiaran]

Lol, loose snatch. Too many good puns with oly lifts. How're your wrists and other joints taking all the new movements?

[Jorge Sanchez]

I know the feeling of wanting to down an entire box of something, lol. What are hollow rocks?


Congrats on the PR's, thats always a great feeling which reminds us why we even do this in the first place. I also am wondering what are hollow rocks?

Thanks, guys. Hollow rocks are the ab exercise from hell:

WzxiORnGYAE

Except I did them with someone pushing down on my legs, rather than just rocking back and forth.


They're putting you through some concise workouts. Great PR's, are you starting to see the quad development?

Thanks, CK. Still a very light PR, considering I could easily powersnatch 95, but I was happy to catch it in a full snatch. Even though it's light it's definite progress.


Nice stuff man! Youre gonna love the O lifting!

Thanks, Zen.


Lol, loose snatch. Too many good puns with oly lifts. How're your wrists and other joints taking all the new movements?

My joints all feel really good - but maybe that's just because I haven't really been going heavy yet. My hips feel pretty beat up a lot, but that's just because they're being put through a range of motion they're not really used to.



So I've been working out, just not posting very consistently.

Today was an hour of very light snatches - I ripped a callous on each hand after my first two warm up sets so didn't want to go very heavy. I feel like my form is starting to come along nicely. My hips are really so much more flexible I can't believe it. I still need to work on getting a bit more upright by increasing the external rotation of my hips, but it's definitely improving.

[View 1]

Glad to see your still at it. I think that one of my big problems with squating ( and similar exercises ) is that my flexability is very poor, I know I should by a foam roller and squat more but I wont lie I hate working legs.

[brihead301]

Don't worry about your loose snatch it will tighten up over time!

Hollow rocks, huh? I'm gonna have to give them a shot. I don't know if you've ever tried dragon flags, but holy s***!!!! That's another good ab exercise:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGFTdhDylvo

[Jorge Sanchez]

Glad to see your still at it. I think that one of my big problems with squating ( and similar exercises ) is that my flexability is very poor, I know I should by a foam roller and squat more but I wont lie I hate working legs.

Honestly, I thought my flexibility was decent before I started the O-lifting, but I quickly realized how much it really sucked. That's what I love about o-lifting, it both requires and reinforces flexibility through the full range of motion of so many joints.


Don't worry about your loose snatch it will tighten up over time!

Hollow rocks, huh? I'm gonna have to give them a shot. I don't know if you've ever tried dragon flags, but holy s***!!!! That's another good ab exercise:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGFTdhDylvo

Thanks, Bri. Those dragon flags do look killer.



Full cleans up to:
171x1x2
182x1
193x0x2

Notes: Worked up to a heavy single. I was hoping to hit a BW clean, which would have been right around 193. It was a little frustrating that I missed because the strength is definitely there - my coach showed me the video and the extension was easily pulling the bar to my mid to high chest so I probably could have power cleaned it - I just need to work on getting under the bar more quickly/in the right receiving position. Everything over 135 was a PR so I think I just need a little bit more practice with some heavier weights and I will be good for 225 in no time.

[jbrin0tk]

Good work, man. That BW clean will come soon enough. Looks like you are already on the right path.

[Kiaran]

Ugh, full cleans are the worst. It's amazing how exhausting it is to use your legs to cushion an explosive landing into a full squat and back up...and then you add weight to it. You'll destroy a BW full clean in another couple weeks, bro. Be patient with yourself.

[Sidior]

Great work dude. Nice to see some heavier weight starting to be moved.

[View 1]

Great effort, your really coming along with the o lifts. You will be getting that bw clean soon enough. Keep us updated.

[borracho]

Figures it'd take a loose snatch to attract me back in here.

Damn dude...225 would be awesome...looks like I've missed a lot in the last couple months...I'll have to review.

[Jorge Sanchez]

Good work, man. That BW clean will come soon enough. Looks like you are already on the right path.

Thanks, dude. I think once I start working with some heavier weight it should come very quickly.


Ugh, full cleans are the worst. It's amazing how exhausting it is to use your legs to cushion an explosive landing into a full squat and back up...and then you add weight to it. You'll destroy a BW full clean in another couple weeks, bro. Be patient with yourself.

I love them, but they are very exhausting. Thanks for the kind words, K.


Great work dude. Nice to see some heavier weight starting to be moved.

Tell me about it. I was starting to get a little antsy. The lighter stuff was definitely some good form work, but I think it shot my strength to ****.


Great effort, your really coming along with the o lifts. You will be getting that bw clean soon enough. Keep us updated.

Thanks, View. My snatch still has a long way to go, but my clean and jerk is moving in the direction of decent.


Figures it'd take a loose snatch to attract me back in here.

Damn dude...225 would be awesome...looks like I've missed a lot in the last couple months...I'll have to review.

Not much to review, really. I've been posting pretty inconsistently. Thanks for dropping back in, though.






OH Squat:
warm up
95x2x3
115x1

OH Press:
95x3
95x5
115x2

Pull ups:
BWx5x2

Notes: Trained on my own for the first time in about a month and a half. It was a little bit of a bittersweet day: on the one hand, I easily nailed an OH squat PR and I'm sure I could have repped it; on the other hand, my upper body strength has been absolutely decimated. I'm going to start doing some straight strength training on my own to try to get a little bit of my strength back. I've also got to gain some weight back -- I haven't been able to stop losing weight since the new year and I'm down towards 190 these days (and if I'm being honest with myself, I haven't really leaned down at all in the past few months so a lot of the weight loss is muscle). The good news is my flexibility is really improving which should translate into some nicer snatches ;)

[Jorge Sanchez]

Snatch for 40 mins:
warm up
95x3

Snatch pulls for 30 mins:
145x5

Notes: It feels a lot tighter in the bottom of my snatch ;)

[View 1]

All your o-lifts seem to be coming along nicely. Sucks about the upper body strength, I take it you have not been doing anything to maintain it? There have been many times in this journal that we have all witnessed you lose strength due to an injury, or going on vaction, and you always come back stong, no doubt you will do it again.

[Kiaran]

That's cool your OH Squat felt great and you did nail a PR there. Glad to hear your snatch is tightening up too, lol. Adding in some standard strength training would probably be a great idea. It seems like a lot of people that get heavily into the Oly lifting lose a ton of upper body strength and power. I assume it is because the weight is far less than what their muscles can physically move but it is at the limit of what they can mechanically accomplish. Not sure if that makes sense. Just beef up your assistance work with standard Squats, Bench, Deads and Press movements. Get more volume in there and keep your diet high in protein and you will stop losing muscle, trust me.

[borracho]

Those workouts sound like zero fun.

I agree :D

But whatever makes ya happy dude..keep it up. At least you're doing something interesting and something that actually takes talent instead of just mindless pulling and pushing like most of the rest of us...myself definitely included.

[ZenMonkey]

Lookin good fella!

[Jorge Sanchez]

All your o-lifts seem to be coming along nicely. Sucks about the upper body strength, I take it you have not been doing anything to maintain it? There have been many times in this journal that we have all witnessed you lose strength due to an injury, or going on vaction, and you always come back stong, no doubt you will do it again.

No, I've only been doing the O-lifts. Frankly, I probably had more weight to gain on those lifts from technique work then from strength work, so the way I've been training makes sense in that regard. It would have been good to do a set of heavy OHP and squats once a week to maintain strength, though. Oh well, I'm going to start doing some straight strength training once or twice a week.


That's cool your OH Squat felt great and you did nail a PR there. Glad to hear your snatch is tightening up too, lol. Adding in some standard strength training would probably be a great idea. It seems like a lot of people that get heavily into the Oly lifting lose a ton of upper body strength and power. I assume it is because the weight is far less than what their muscles can physically move but it is at the limit of what they can mechanically accomplish. Not sure if that makes sense. Just beef up your assistance work with standard Squats, Bench, Deads and Press movements. Get more volume in there and keep your diet high in protein and you will stop losing muscle, trust me.

When learning the lifts, that's definitely that case, but once you progress you need lots of strength to complete the lifts. Unfortunately, I'm not there yet. You're right about the lifts and diet, though. I need to get that stuff nailed down.


I agree :D

But whatever makes ya happy dude..keep it up. At least you're doing something interesting and something that actually takes talent instead of just mindless pulling and pushing like most of the rest of us...myself definitely included.

It's nice to take on a new challenge. It's humbling to be out lifted by women nearly half my weight, though.


Lookin good fella!

Thanks, ZM. I'm liking the O-lifting so far.



Clean and jerk for 70 minutes:
warm up
155x3x a few (missed a couple jerks)
135x2 x a bunch
135x1 +6 front squatsx3

Notes: Upper body strength bit me on the jerks. I have only jerked four or five times, so this is not so bad, but considering I could nearly press 155x3 at one point, it's still a little frustrating. I was feeling a little out of it today or I would have been good for more.

Looked at some vids and I need to keep my shoulders over the bar a little longer on the clean and extend my front leg a little more on the split jerk.

[Jorge Sanchez]

Kneeling OHP:
115x5x5

Front squat:
115x5x5

Notes: Couldn't make it to the gym today so just did a quick workout at home. The good news is I put up 5x5 in my OHP what I could barely put up for a double a week and a half ago (it must have been a bad day). Squats were really light but I really focused on spreading my knees/hips and getting deep. I can really start to feel myself dropping in between my legs/hips when I squat.

[View 1]

I know that alot of the o-lifts still help with upper body strength but by adding a day or two to do direct work will definitely help maintain your strength. Good home workout simple and to the point.

[Sidior]

Kneeling OHP? As in OHPs while on your knees? That sounds rough!

[Jorge Sanchez]

I know that alot of the o-lifts still help with upper body strength but by adding a day or two to do direct work will definitely help maintain your strength. Good home workout simple and to the point.

Thanks, View. The o-lifts help with strength when you get to a point where you can start throwing some real weight around. Unfortunately, I'm not there yet - technique, not strength, is my limiting factor for most lifts (although, more strength would make up for poor technique, but I'd rather nail down the technique first). Some straight strength work will definitely help, though.


Kneeling OHP? As in OHPs while on your knees? That sounds rough!

Yeah, my roof is not high enough to do them standing, so I kneel. I would have gone outside, but it was poring. It definitely forces you to do a strict press.

[ZenMonkey]

Thats great man. There is nothing like the feeling of effortlessly bounding/squatting out of a snatch or clean. Hows your flexibility doing? Ive been working mine like crazy trying to get ass to ankles, its probably my biggest hinderance.

You training is interesting. What is the pattern it follows?

[Jorge Sanchez]

Thats great man. There is nothing like the feeling of effortlessly bounding/squatting out of a snatch or clean. Hows your flexibility doing? Ive been working mine like crazy trying to get ass to ankles, its probably my biggest hinderance.

You training is interesting. What is the pattern it follows?

My flexibility has improved temendously, although I still have a way to go. I try to stretch whenever I have a bit of downtime. Personally, I find wall squats (standing about an inch in front of a wall) help a ton because they really force me to push my knees out and open my hips. I also try to do a bunch of third world squats (basically, I put on my oly shoes and sit in a deep squat for prolonged perious of time while I watch tv) - it hurt like hell at first and I could only really do a minute at a time, but it's starting to get comfortable now.

My training is not super structured. Basically, I spend as much time doing the lifts as possible (alternative every training day between clean (and jerk sometimes) and snatch) with whatever accessory movements my coach feels I need that day. I'm not sure what I'm going to do once I start training on my own in September.

[Jorge Sanchez]

Power snatch:
warm up
95x3
105x3
115x1
125x1
135x1x2
145x0

Front squats:
145x6x 5 or 6ish

Notes: The 135 power snatch was a PR. I had set a goal of snatching a big boy plate by the end of August, so now I just have to see if I can full snatch it.

[borracho]

What sort of form are you using on the front squats?

[View 1]

Congrats on the PR!! What is the difference between a power snatch and a regular one? does it just mean you start from the hang position?

[Sidior]

Haha I thought the big boy plates where 100s :P

Great oly work brother!

[Kiaran]

Nice job hitting your mark on the 135 snatch, dude. Where's this extra work you said you wanted to get in?

[Jorge Sanchez]

What sort of form are you using on the front squats?

I use a clean grip, if that's what you were wondering.


Congrats on the PR!! What is the difference between a power snatch and a regular one? does it just mean you start from the hang position?

Both are from the floor. A power snatch (or clean) essentially means that you don't break parallel while receiving the bar. I was going them with very little dip (maybe a couple of inches, tops). Power snatches (or cleans) are harder because you have to bring the bar higher without the squat part so you should be able to easily snatch whatever you can power snatch. That's not always the case for me, though, since it's sometimes hard to catch the weight in the bottom of the squat position, but it's improving.


Haha I thought the big boy plates where 100s :P

Great oly work brother!

Well big boy 45s. I've got a long way to go before I'm snatching 245, but hopefully I can put up a BW snatch within the next year or so. 45lb and 20kg plates are the biggest plates at my gym anyways.


Nice job hitting your mark on the 135 snatch, dude. Where's this extra work you said you wanted to get in?

I've been really busy for the past week: it's my last week of work before I head off to school so I have a bunch of projects I've been trying to finish and I'm getting ready for a vacation and school. I'll have a couple of weeks off once I get back from vacation, so I'll start doing the extra work then. Thanks for pushing me in the right direction, K.






I'm leaving the country for a week and a half tonight. I'll be hitting the gym more often once I get back.

[Jorge Sanchez]

OH Squat:
45x5x2
95x3x3

Back squat:
95x5
135x5x3

OHP:
95x5x3

Pull ups:
BWx8

Notes: Just a quick workout to get back in the gym. I'm switching to high bar squats -- the bar position felt a little weird so I didn't put much weight on. The squats themselves felt good, though, so I'll just have to get used to the bar position and I should be good to start adding some more weight. My hips were really tight, but I managed to stretch them out nicely with the squatting movements.

[View 1]

Another vacation jorge? Have fun where ever your going, have a drink for all of us here. Quick little workout before you leave no need to push it before a trip.

[Jorge Sanchez]

Actually, I just got back from the south of France. I quit my job, though, so I still have a little over a couple weeks off before I start law school.



OH Squats:
45x5x2
95x3x3

Front squats:
135x5
185x3x2
135x5

OHP:
100x5x3

Pull ups:
BWx5x3

Notes: weaksauce.

[ZenMonkey]

Solid work man! You excited about law school?

[Jorge Sanchez]

Solid work man! You excited about law school?

I am definitely starting to look forward to it.



OH Squat:
45x5x2
95x3
100x3x2

Back squat:
135x5
155x5x2
175x1
195x1
205x1
225x2

Dips:
BWx8x3

Notes: Weaksauce again. Still trying to get used to high bar squats. Weight felt very manageable, but I tried to squat the weight up as if I were low bar squatting with the second rep of 225 so I called it quits. I'm going to really keep an eye on form going forward. Still pleased considering this is the first time I've back squatted with more than 135, or even lifted more than 200lbs in a couple of months. I'll need to work on my strength at the bottom, mainly because I've never been able to squat so low before.

[ZenMonkey]

Solid effort man! The highbars take some time getting used to. Dont sweat it, they are the absolute hardest way to do a squat.

These cues helped me a TON:
-Dont use your hamstrings to lower yourself
-Move the weight from your heels to the balls of your feet
-Emphasize the back arch
-Think about driving up while on the way down
-Remember the highbar squat is like a LEG PRESS... only move from the hips down
-Knees past toes!

[Jorge Sanchez]

Thanks for the pointers, Zen. I just need to put in a little more practice and I should dial in the form pretty soon. My coach said today: "I'm finally starting to break you of those Rippetoe backsquats," so I guess I'm going in the right direction.

Snatch for 50 mins:
65x3

Jump squats:
65x10x3

Notes: First day back in the O-lifting gym in about three weeks so my coach kept it very light. Form and flexibility are definitely miles ahead of where they were before I started.

[ZenMonkey]

Thats great to hear man! Its a good feeling to be flexible AND strong. Keep it up!

[Jorge Sanchez]

Still have to work on the strong bit, but I'll get there.

Thanks, Zen.

[ZenMonkey]

Dont kid yourself man, you are strong. It takes alot to scrap everything you are doing to relearn the basics, your numbers were good before you changed things up and had a bad few months. Theyll get there again but it will be on a completely different level of strength and explosivity (not a word). mmmmm, just talking about the effects of training Olympic style gets me amped, Ill just keep going on and on. Anyway, dont sell yourself short!

[borracho]

Hmmm..I am going to have to look up these "high bar" squats...I keep seeing that thrown around..high/low bar squatting..but either way..looking good to be able to come back after a such a long break and do 225...I am just getting back there myself and I've been working at it for a while!! Keep it up bud.

[brihead301]

Nice work in here. I'm wondering, why are you guys doing oly squats now? Not that there's anything wrong with them, and not that there's anything wrong with Rippetoe's style, but I'm just wondering why you guys have decided to make the switch from low to high-bar? Does it help with the oly lifts or something???

[Jorge Sanchez]

Dont kid yourself man, you are strong. It takes alot to scrap everything you are doing to relearn the basics, your numbers were good before you changed things up and had a bad few months. Theyll get there again but it will be on a completely different level of strength and explosivity (not a word). mmmmm, just talking about the effects of training Olympic style gets me amped, Ill just keep going on and on. Anyway, dont sell yourself short!

I was once modestly strong, now I just have to work my way back up there again. Thanks for the encouragement, Zen.


Hmmm..I am going to have to look up these "high bar" squats...I keep seeing that thrown around..high/low bar squatting..but either way..looking good to be able to come back after a such a long break and do 225...I am just getting back there myself and I've been working at it for a while!! Keep it up bud.

High bar/low bar refers the where the bar is positioned on your back. With a high bar squat, the bar is resting on your traps and you squat much more upright. With a low bar squat, the bar is resting on your rear delts and it requires much more forward lean.


Nice work in here. I'm wondering, why are you guys doing oly squats now? Not that there's anything wrong with them, and not that there's anything wrong with Rippetoe's style, but I'm just wondering why you guys have decided to make the switch from low to high-bar? Does it help with the oly lifts or something???

Thanks, bri.

A low bar squat has more carryover to O-lifts. I know Rippetoe argues that the low bar squat is better accessory lift for the O-lifts, but my coach made me switch to high bar regardless. It helps reinforce the upright position you need to clean and snatch. If your ass isn't right underneath your body when you clean or snatch, you're going to dump the weight.

[Jorge Sanchez]

OH squat:
45x5x2
95x3
105x3x2

Front squat:
135x5
185x3x2

Pull ups:
BWx5x5

Dips:
BWx8x5

Split jerks:
95x3x3

Notes: Trained with Persiscutor, Roots and Sidior today. Fun session, even if it was a little jumbled. Sidior let Persiscutor and Roots try out one of his shirts, which was cool because I've never actually seen someone use a shirt before in real life.

[Sidior]

Ya it was fun to get together. Your flexibility has improved a ton! I also realized we should have grabbed a bite or something, I got nothing going on all day lol.

[ZenMonkey]

Nice WO man!

I agree with you, highbar has much more carry over to the clean. Lowbar lets you load more weight but it wont have carry over to the clean.

[Jorge Sanchez]

Ya it was fun to get together. Your flexibility has improved a ton! I also realized we should have grabbed a bite or something, I got nothing going on all day lol.

Yeah, I didn't realize how hungry I was until I hopped on my bike. I could have gone for some shawarma. Next time we're in the same city we'll have to train and grab a bite.


Nice WO man!

I agree with you, highbar has much more carry over to the clean. Lowbar lets you load more weight but it wont have carry over to the clean.

Thanks, Zen. Agreed. Although, I can see Rips argument -- if you want to squat to help your clean, front squat. If you want to squat to strengthen your hips and hamstrings, low bar back squat. But there's definitely something to be said about reinforcing the upright posture needed for the O-lifts.

[View 1]

Nice workout. Glad that all of you got together and were able to hit the gym, thats good stuff.

[Jorge Sanchez]

Nice workout. Glad that all of you got together and were able to hit the gym, thats good stuff.

Thanks, Jefe.


OH Squat:
45x5x2
95x3
110x2
110x1

Back squat:
135x5
175x5x3

OHP:
45x5
105x5x3

Tabat front squats: 65lbs

Notes: Had trouble with my balance on the OHP - chalk it up to an off day. High bar squats are getting more comfortable - still light.

Tabata front squats: when I was done, it was all I could do to make it to a bench to sit down, my legs were so pumped I could only walk like a zombie and stairs are still presenting a big challenge. And the thing is, I think I went too light since I didn't feel like I was going to puke. I decided to start these very conservatively after reading about a guy with a 400+lbs front squat who puked with 95lbs. I'll add some weight next time. Hoping to make these devils a staple.

[Sidior]

You ****ing did the tabata front squats eh, you are a champ!

[borracho]

haha...oh man...those tabata squats look sorta intense...I'll stick with my plain-jane workout till I feel man enough to try that...looking solid overall buddy..keep it up!

[jbrin0tk]

Good work lately, man. Going to youtube right now to find out what a tabata squat is.

[View 1]

Tabatha squats sound like pure hell. I give you props for getting threw them. Good to see some OHP in there as well.

[Kiaran]

Tabata anything = puke. Nice work getting through that, bro. Interesting move with the high bar position on the squats. I think things will come around for you as soon as you get everything where you want it with your form and all.

[brihead301]

Ya man, tabata is killer. I've done it with deadlifts using 115 lbs. before, and it was a b****. I never tried it with front squats though. Nice work in here bro!

[Jorge Sanchez]

You ****ing did the tabata front squats eh, you are a champ!


haha...oh man...those tabata squats look sorta intense...I'll stick with my plain-jane workout till I feel man enough to try that...looking solid overall buddy..keep it up!


Good work lately, man. Going to youtube right now to find out what a tabata squat is.


Tabatha squats sound like pure hell. I give you props for getting threw them. Good to see some OHP in there as well.


Tabata anything = puke. Nice work getting through that, bro. Interesting move with the high bar position on the squats. I think things will come around for you as soon as you get everything where you want it with your form and all.


Ya man, tabata is killer. I've done it with deadlifts using 115 lbs. before, and it was a b****. I never tried it with front squats though. Nice work in here bro!

Thanks guys. Tabata will definitely make you wish for death for those four minutes of hell.

[Jorge Sanchez]

OH squat:
45x5x2
95x3x2

Power snatch:
95x3

Hang snatch
95x3

Full snatch
95x3x3

Back squat:
135x5
175x5x3

OHP:
95x5x3

Tabata front squats: 75lbs

Notes: First time back in the gym for about a week. I moved for school and was just too swamped with that to get to the gym any earlier. Checked out the facilities at the school today and was stoked to find 5 platforms and bumper plates. Squats felt really heavy so I decided to take it easy on the OHP, which felt really easy. Tabata was killer again, but not as bad as last time.

[Sidior]

Awesome you found a good gym. I'm totally coming to train with you when I'm in town. How is the new place?

[ZenMonkey]

Snatch looks awesome man! Real consistent on all your lifts! Youre gonna have to post some vids! It will be interesting to see our differences. My coach pulled me off O lifts completely until I have a really big back and front squat, which is different than he trains his other lifters. He asked if I wanted to be a guinea pig for a different way to prep for the lifts.. I said sure. So, I guess Im gonna get balls strong before anymore o lifting.

[Jorge Sanchez]

Awesome you found a good gym. I'm totally coming to train with you when I'm in town. How is the new place?

Sounds good, dude. Let me know next time you're in town. The new place is pretty sweet - it's in a prime location, on Bloor just west of Spadina.


Snatch looks awesome man! Real consistent on all your lifts! Youre gonna have to post some vids! It will be interesting to see our differences. My coach pulled me off O lifts completely until I have a really big back and front squat, which is different than he trains his other lifters. He asked if I wanted to be a guinea pig for a different way to prep for the lifts.. I said sure. So, I guess Im gonna get balls strong before anymore o lifting.

Yeah, I'll have to try to take some vids. My form is still shaky at best, so I could definitely use some pointers. I'm sure getting your squat up will definitely translate to your O-lifts, especially since you already have pretty good experience with the lifts.


Clean and Jerk:
95x3x2
135x3x2

Notes: That's it. I got kicked out of the gym (at 5pm!!) for "women's hour." I am really pissed about that both in principle and because this was one of the few times this week I actually had a decent amount of time to make it to the gym.

I think I'm going to write an email complaint about this because that policy doesn't make any sense, it's discrimination and given my schedule that's pretty much the ideal time for me to train.

[borracho]

****ty about getting kicked out of the gym...sucks.

Look at the bright side, you had a plethora of snatch a few days ago.

Doing great buddy

[ZenMonkey]

Yea. **** that. Is there a men's hour?

[Jorge Sanchez]

****ty about getting kicked out of the gym...sucks.

Look at the bright side, you had a plethora of snatch a few days ago.

Doing great buddy

Thanks, borracho.


Yea. **** that. Is there a men's hour?

I asked the attendant that exact question and she said "Any time is men's hour... except now." So I said, "Well women can come any time, including now." It's discrimination - there is really no other word for it.

[ZenMonkey]

If that is the case then necessarily either A) women pay more to be a member or B) that time gets deducted from your payments... or C) your gym is sexist.

Id love to hear their justification on this one. Keep us updated on it!

Sadly, the world is not as logical as it should be.

[View 1]

Are you still going to the O gym ( not the university gym )? I would be pissed if I had to leave because of that policy, I would be off to find a new gym.

[brihead301]

That "women's hour" is bulls*** for sure. So you have a new gym now that you are going to?

Nice oly lifts there! It's rare to see people focusing on those lifts.

[Jorge Sanchez]

If that is the case then necessarily either A) women pay more to be a member or B) that time gets deducted from your payments... or C) your gym is sexist.

Id love to hear their justification on this one. Keep us updated on it!

Sadly, the world is not as logical as it should be.

It's definitely BS. If they insist on doing it, they should at least have it at a less convenient time. So many people want to work out at 5pm.


Are you still going to the O gym ( not the university gym )? I would be pissed if I had to leave because of that policy, I would be off to find a new gym.

I moved cities so I'm no longer going to the O-lifting gym. I'm back in school so the gym membership is included in my tuition. The location and the gym itself are actually ideal and I can't afford to shell out cash for another gym with O-lifting platforms so I'm not leaving, unfortunately.


That "women's hour" is bulls*** for sure. So you have a new gym now that you are going to?

Nice oly lifts there! It's rare to see people focusing on those lifts.

If you saw them you probably wouldn't describe them as nice, but they are a lot of fun. Thanks, bri.


Snatch (kg):
Warm up
44x3x5

Back squat (lbs):
135x5
175x5x3

Pull ups:
BWx5x5

Tabata front squats: 75lbs

Notes: I've been super busy with school and I have so much work to do, despite just having had my first formal class this morning. I also intend to get involved with some of the extracurricular activities, so I'm not sure how much time I'll have to devote to the gym over the next few years of my life. I may be limited to a couple of times a week. I feel pretty weak right now, but I'm not sure how much I'll be able to turn that around.

[Jorge Sanchez]

Clean and jerk (kg):
40x3x2
60x3x2
64x3

Front squat:
135x5
155x5x3

OHP:
115x5
115x3x2

Notes: Quick session. Squatting strength is way down, but I'm not too concerned about it. I met possibly the most knowledgeable gym attendant today. She introduced herself to my while I was C+Jing. Apparently she competes in the O-lifts and coaches a team. She gave me a few pointers and said she'd try to give me something to work on every time I'm training while she works. It's not quite the same as having a coach, but it's nice to have a trained eye to help keep me on track.

[Jorge Sanchez]

Snatch (kg):
warm up
40x3x4
47x3

Squat:
135x5
175x5x3

Pull ups:
BWx5x5

Notes: Boring workout and I am weak. The good news is high bar squats are starting to feel very natural.

[ZenMonkey]

Good work on those squats man! Highbar squats FTW! Once I got used to doing them that way, nothing else felt as natural.

So, did you have to stop seeing your original coach?

[Sidior]

Looking consistent in here man. Have you adjusted to the new gym yet?

[Jorge Sanchez]

Good work on those squats man! Highbar squats FTW! Once I got used to doing them that way, nothing else felt as natural.

So, did you have to stop seeing your original coach?

They feel really good, I'm just really weak. :(

Yeah, I had to stop seeing my coach so I'm just winging the o-lifts. Fortunately, there's an attendant at the gym who coaches and she gives me pointers when she's around.


Looking consistent in here man. Have you adjusted to the new gym yet?

Definitely not much consistency going on, but I'm working on it. The new gym is really nice, but it has a weird schedule - I'm not sure I'll ever adjust to that, to be honest.


Cleans (kg):
warm up
40x3
60x3x6

Squats:
135x5
175x5x3

OHP:
100x5x3

Notes: Back after a short cold-induced hiatus. I need to step up my game in the gym and the kitchen.

[borracho]

All things considered it looks like you're doing fine dude...and thats cool the girl offered to assist you at the gym...I wish I had someone knowledgeable about lifting out at my place as I really need help with squats but no one at my gym really does them.

Any how...keep on with staying on track..looks like you're doing it.

[brihead301]

I hear ya about needing to step up my game in the kitchen! My diet is always sub-par. Nice sessions though. Anyone that consistently does oly lifting trains well in my book!

[Jorge Sanchez]

All things considered it looks like you're doing fine dude...and thats cool the girl offered to assist you at the gym...I wish I had someone knowledgeable about lifting out at my place as I really need help with squats but no one at my gym really does them.

Any how...keep on with staying on track..looks like you're doing it.

Thanks, dude.


I hear ya about needing to step up my game in the kitchen! My diet is always sub-par. Nice sessions though. Anyone that consistently does oly lifting trains well in my book!

Thanks, I just need to step up the consistency and intensity a bit.


Snatch (kg):
Warm up
40x3x6

Notes: That's it. Fire alarm went off while I was loading the squat rack. I was stuck outside waiting for about 30 minutes and by the time I got back in I didn't have any time left for the rest of my workout :(.

[View 1]

First off good luck with school, I know when everything else takes priority in your life its very hard to fit gym time in. Good to see your still in there getting it done, thats the most important part.

If I recall you got into law school in Canada??

[View 1]

Mr Sanchez please report to WBB and update us on your weekly workouts.

That is all.

Thank you.
:nod::nod::nod:

[borracho]

haha...I was just thinking the same thing...

..hope all is well with you bud..hope classes are going smooth!

[Sidior]

*cough*

[borracho]

cough^2


WTF?!

[View 1]

Jorge has gone MIA on us.

Send out the search party!!!!!

[borracho]

Maybe if we just use this as gen chat for a while he'll be forced to deal with us (you know how those silly moderators are)...at least give an update with an ETA of his return, if there is to be one?

Thoughts? Suggestions? Topics?

[View 1]

So how is the weather in NM? Here where I am ( northern cali, in a small but imfamous city ) its 47 degrees, thats a big improvement from the 33 degrees it was a couple days ago.

[borracho]

This morning it was 7*F...SEVEN degrees!!...and its warmed up to a whopping 27* at this point. Monday night we got hit by a big snow storm in the north half of the state...dumped roughly 14in at work over night...pretty awesome.

Where the **** are you at Nate?!

[Keith]

Yeah... where the hell are you? You don't even come on here anymore!

[View 1]

Thats to cold for me, the snow is fun to visit but its a bitch to live in. It rained alot over here last week, and after it rained some birds decided to use my car as a target cause it got **** on pretty good, why couldnt they do it before it rained!!! Little bastards :mad::swear::mad::swear:

[ZenMonkey]

Man, I saw this log up and thought her was back around.... he must be hard at work with those snatches... or the jerks.... ;)

[danmac]

You still training at ottawa u? I am starting up there on a consistent basis pretty soon.

[borracho]

*cough*

cough cough.

[Keith]

Got the word from the man himself. He's still training and hasn't given up, but he's been crazy busy with school and now starting a 20 rep squat routine.