Journey towards strength beyond strength

[dajuggernaut]

You are getting strong good work all around bro-the military presses look solid

[jbrin0tk]

You are getting strong good work all around bro-the military presses look solid

Thanks, bro. Long time no post, huh? I haven't seen you around here in awhile. How's your training going?

[Jorge Sanchez]

Nice workout. I find squatting more often helps me big time.

[jbrin0tk]

Nice workout. I find squatting more often helps me big time.

Thanks, Jorge. The movement didn't feel weird; my muscles just did not feel like they were ready for the work. I appreciate the props, though!

[jbrin0tk]

7 May 2008 DE Bench Day


Bench

barx12
135x8

add mini's

120 for 8 sets of 3 reps.


done. I backed off about 10 lbs. on the bar weight. I'm not really feeling that DE work is carrying over for me, so I thought maybe I wasn't fast enough. I KNOW I was fast with 120, so we shall see. I may end up switching to doing some RE work. Nonetheless, it was a great opportunity to work with light weights and work on form and leg drive. I enjoyed it.


Tate Presses

50's x 8
65's x 10
65's x 10
65's x 10
65's x 10
65's x 8...ran out of gas.

done. Man, I forgot how hard these were. Great exercise, though.


Bent Over Barbell Rows

135x8
135x8
155x8
155x8

done. I am loving this exercise and don't understand why I never did it before. I could really feel it in my lats. My back is feeling good.


Skullcrushers with EZ bar

105x8
105x8
105x8

done. Good stuff, and no elbow pain.


Close grip cable rows

150x8
160x8
160x8
120x8

done. Was going to go for a rep record with 120, but I ran out of gas, lol.
Still, I am making good progress here.


DB Bench

60's x 15
60's x 15

done. Gonna start giving these a shot. Going with high reps on these. I've heard they were good for raw benching.


H-rolls

20's x 8
25's x 8
25's x 8

done. These were tough.


Great workout today! Everything felt great. I was gonna go for one more set of the DB bench, but I ran out of gas on the last set, so I decided to stop. All in all, a good day. I'll be posting again on Friday for DE Squat Day.

[Jorge Sanchez]

Glad to hear things went well. Things are looking solid in here, as usual.

[jbrin0tk]

Glad to hear things went well. Things are looking solid in here, as usual.

Thanks, Jorge. I appreciate the props!

[jbrin0tk]

9 May 2008 DE Squat Day


Box Squats

barx8
135x5
185x5


205x2
205x2
205x2
205x2
205x2
205x2
205x2
205x2

done. These were cool; I'd never tried them before. I didn't actually have a box, so I used a bench at the gym. Surprisingly, it was only about an inch above parallel or so, if that. I felt really fast with the 205 today. I've been watching "The Westside Seminar" from Elitefts, and Dave Tate said to start a DE Squat cycle at 60% of max weight, so I gave it a go. I am definitely going to buy an actual box sometime soon cuz these were awesome! I'm not crafty enough to actually make a box...!


Military Presses

95x5
115x5
135x3
155x1

175x4
175x4
175x3

done. Pretty tough, but I know I'll get three sets of five with it soon.


Good Mornings

135x5
175x5
205x5
225x5
245x3 PR


done. Whew, 245 for three was tough, even with a belt. My head started to feel like it would explode, or else I would've went for two more reps and probably would've had them pretty easily.


Ghetto-Glute Ham Raises

BWx5
BWx5
BWx5

done. Wow. My gym doesn't actually have one of these benches, so I improvised on the hamstring curl thingy. Tough as all get out. Good stuff!


Pull-Throughs

150x8
120x8
120x8

done. This was enough, lol.


ab stuff.


A good workout. Hams and low back are nice and tender, lol! I'll be posting again tomorrow for ME Bench Day.

[jbrin0tk]

10 May 2008 ME Bench Day


Bench with 1board

barx8
135x5

add 1board

185x3
205x3
225x3
245x1
270x1
290x1
305x1 PR ! (+5lbs.)


done. Heck yeah! A small 1board PR, but a PR nonetheless. I really focused on staying tight, leg drive, and touching the bar so that my elbows would be in line with the bar today. It helped a lot. The 305 stuck a little, but once it was past that point it flew up to lockout.


Tate Presses

60'sx5
65'sx5
70'sx5
75'sx5

done. Could've gone up in weight but my triceps were feeling a bit beat from benching and my DE day on Wed.


Chest-Supported rows

70lbs.x8
110x6
120x6
125x6

done. Feeling stronger on these.


DB Rollbacks

40'sx8
50'sx8
55'sx6

done. My triceps were shot, haha!


DB Rows

90lbs (each arm) for 4 sets of 8 reps.


done. Pretty easy, may have to jump the weight up.


DB Bench

60'sx15
60'sx15
60'sx12

done. Dang it, just missed that last set of 15. Oh well, it's coming I really do like the RE work with the DB's, though.


That's it. Great workout today. I came in really motivated to hit 305 off the 1board, and I did it! I would've went for 310, but the guy who spotted me left and the only other person in the weight room was a 55 year old woman, so no go

I did have an interesting conversation with a guy, though. He says to me "hey man, why are you cheatin' with that board? You've already got a solid bench; you don't need that thing." I told him I wasn't cheating; I was training and working on my sticking point. I then explained to him about board presses. He told me it was garbage. He then told me that my 1board looked like a sex toy, lol! Oh well, I really don't care what those people think. I'll be posting again on Monday for ME Squat Day.

[Jorge Sanchez]

Nice work. A 315 bench can't be too far off.

[jbrin0tk]

Thanks, Jorge! Hopefully it will come soon. I appreciate it!

[jbrin0tk]

12 May 2008 ME Squat Day

Military Press

95x5
115x5
135x3
155x1
175x4
175x3

done. Gonna give these a break on Friday. My shoulders have felt tired for a couple weeks now. There's no pain, it's just that every one of these lifts, even the warmups, feels heavy. I'll take a week off of 'em and go back at it on Monday.


Squats

barx5
135x5
155x4
185x5
225x3

add belt
275x1
315x3 Rep PR!

365x1 1RM PR! (+25lbs.)

done. Wow, 365 was the most weight I've ever held on my back. Surprisingly, I felt pretty sturdy with it. It was quite tough out of the hole, but not too bad, not as tough as my 415 deadlift was, haha! I am stoked about this!


Ghetto Glute Ham Raise

BWx6
BWx6
BWx6

done. Felt better today.


Barbell Lunges

110lbs. for 2 sets of 5

done.


Ab Pulldowns

3 sets of 20

done



Close-grip cable rows

150lbs.x8
150lbsx8
160lbs.x8
170lbs.x6

done. Just working on my bench weakpoint. I figured I'd add in a couple extra sets per week.


H-rolls

25's for 3 sets of 8 reps

done.



A great workout. I wish I would've gotten a bit more hamstring work in, but there's always Friday for that. I spent a lot of energy on those squats. I skipped any type of Deadlift-type lift today because my lower back was a bit tender from the Good-Mornings on Friday. I'll be posting again for DE Bench day on Wednesday.

[Jorge Sanchez]

That is a huge PR!! 25lbs

[jbrin0tk]

That is a huge PR!! 25lbs

Yeah, man, I just kinda had that "go for it" attitude. The bar was already loaded with 315 so I just decided to go ahead and give it a shot, so I put 50 more pounds on the bar, haha! It was not too hard to unrack or walk out, but it was really hard out of the hole. I was stoked about it!

[jbrin0tk]

14 May 2008 DE Bench Day


Bench

barx8
135x6

wide grip sets
185x3
185x3
185x3

medium grip sets
185x3
185x3
185x3

close grip sets
185x3
185x3
185x3

done. Switched over to straight weight in the gym today. I think I may try that for awhile. Speed was good once I got going a bit.


DB Rollbacks

50'sx10
50'sx10
50'sx8
50'sx8
50'sx8

done. Those last three sets were hard.


Chest-supported rows

90lbs.x8
100lbs.x8
110lbs.x8
120lbs.x8

done. I still suck at these, but I'm making progress! 120 is the most weight I've ever been able to do for 8 reps. I just can't seem to get comfortable on the darn machine!


DB Bench

60's for 3 sets of 15

done. I finally got that third set of 15 today. Time to move the weight up!


Barbell Rows

155x8
155x8
175x6
185x6

done. Those last two sets were hard.


Cable Pushdowns

100lbs. for 2 sets of 8 reps.

done. Blah...



A good workout today. My back work felt good and I feel like I am making some progress with it. I'll be posting again on Friday for DE squat day.

[Jorge Sanchez]

Nice work, J-bro. Those are some strong CGBP.

[jbrin0tk]

Nice work, J-bro. Those are some strong CGBP.

Thanks, Jorge! I'm trying over here! The close grip sets were easy, and I was going for speed with them. They felt really good, though. I appreciate you checking in!

[Jorge Sanchez]

Well I'm sure they are easy when you're a 300lbs bencher, but it still looks good on paper.

[jbrin0tk]

Well I'm sure they are easy when you're a 300lbs bencher, but it still looks good on paper.

Thanks, Jorge!

[jbrin0tk]

16 May 2008 DE Squat Day


Speed Squats-straight weight to a box


barx8
135x5
185x5
205x5

220x2
220x2
220x2
220x2
220x2
220x2
220x2
220x2

done. I love doing these off of a box. It's really great for helping me perfect my form. Speed was great today, too.


Deadlifts-conventional

135x5
185x5
225x5
275x5
325x5

done. Wow. That 325x5 was quite easy. I surprised myself. I thought these would kill me today because I haven't pulled conventional in a couple of weeks. Instead, I've been doing variations of deadlifts. They really were pretty easy, though. Good stuff.


Barbell Lunges-reps are for each leg

110lbs.x8
110lbs.x8
110lbs.x8

done. Tough. I was glad to be done with them.


Ghetto Glute Ham Raise

BWx7
BWx7
BWx5

done. Ouch. I've never felt such a force on my hamstrings before doing these, even if they are a ghetto version!

Ab stuff.


Great workout. Everything felt good and I even widened my squat stance out a little bit without any groin pain. Good stuff! I'll be posting again tomorrow for ME bench day.

[Jorge Sanchez]

Nice pulling and great workout overall!

[jbrin0tk]

Thanks, Jorge!


17 May 2008 ME Bench Day

Floor Press

barx8
95x5
135x5
185x3
205x3
225x3
245x1
270x1
280x1
290x1
300x1 PR (+5lb.)
305x1 PR!! (+ another 5lb.)

done. Heck yeah! A total 10lb. Floor Press PR! I was stoked about this. The best part about it was that I felt sooo crappy this morning. I didn't even think I would go to the gym today, let alone set a +10lb. PR on Floor Presses. Very Pleased.


JM Presses

barx6
95x6
135x6
145x6
155x6
175x6

done. 175 was the most I've ever JM pressed, and it was quite hard, haha!


Chest-Supported Rows

90lbsx8 very, very, easy.
110lbs.x6
125lbs.x6
135lbs.x6
155lbs.x3
155lbs.x3

done. Those first two sets just flew up and down. I was shocked that they were so easy, but that's a good thing!


DB Bench Press

65's x 15
65's x 12

done. Pretty tired from all the floor presses and the JM presses. My goal is to work up to 65's for 3 sets of 15 reps. This was the first time I'd tried 65's for that many reps. Granted, I've pressed 100's for 10 reps before, but never for successive sets like this.


Bent Over Flies

25's for 3 sets of 8 reps.


done. Easy. Need to take the weight up on these.



A great workout. I felt horrible when I woke up this morning. I was just so sore and tired, and I was seriously contemplating taking the day off and going to the gym tomorrow. I'm glad I showed up, though! Jorge, if you read this, congratulations on your squat PR the other day! 315 is awesome, man, way to go! I'll be posting again on Monday for ME Squat Day.

[Jorge Sanchez]

Nice work off the floor! And thanks for the props - it's a nice milestone - one you're sure to hit on the bench soon.

[jbrin0tk]

Nice work off the floor! And thanks for the props - it's a nice milestone - one you're sure to hit on the bench soon.

No problem, man! Thanks for checking in!

[jbrin0tk]

19 May 2008 ME Squat Day

Military Presses

45x5
95x5
115x5
135x3
155x1

175 for 3 sets of 5 reps.

done. Heck yeah! Finally got 175 for 3 sets of 5. A nice milestone for me.


Squats-no box, a bit deeper than parallel

95x5
135x5
175x5
205x5
225x5
250x5

done. According to Matt Rhodes' program, this was supposed to be a deload week for me. I didn't go too heavy and did some rep work instead. I've put 30lbs. on my max squat since I started his program.


Rack Pulls

135x5
225x5
315x3
365x1
405x1
425x1
445x0 missed it
445x1 PR! +10lbs.

done. Another nice little milestone here. It's great to come in the gym and hit PR's on exercises.


Pull Throughs

110lbs.x8
110lbs.x8
120lbs.x8

done.


Dumbbell Rows

100's for 4 sets of 8 reps (each arm)

done. Still fairly easy. May have to up the weight again.




DB Bench Press

65's for 3 sets of 15

done. Last set was tough, but I got it.



A great workout. The only thing I am disappointed in is that I am starting to turn my ME Squat days into a hybrid workout with my back, etc. I need to keep my focus on my legs. Really, if I had done another leg/hamstring type of exercise I probably wouldn't too worried about it. Oh well, I'll be posting again on Wednesday for DE Bench day.