T Gale journal

[t gale]

quick update.
I'm in my pre meet phase. Which means I only train 3 days a week and wed is all out access day so probably won't be keeping up on journal too much right now.
Saturday weather messed my usual training day up. So had to stay local. any way pulled first.
deads up to 635x1 (in briefs)
I'm thinking I may be better of just pulling raw.

Box squat with blue bands.
barx5
135x5
225x3
315x2
405x2x1
455x2x2
475x2
495x5
Felt pretty good.

sldl with dbs 35x12x3

Done I got called into work like 2 mins after my last set. Probably 1 last squat session before meet.

[sambone]

I think you're right about the raw thing. You pull slows up at the top because you always catch your hand. It looks like you get alittle pop but doesn't seem worth it by how bad it hurts you at the top.

[Brian Hopper]

Thanks Bri c and Sam.
yesterday bench
barx10
135x8
225x3
315x2
405x2
495x3(3brd)
shirt on 54 ragex dbl
605x1 (2brd)
635x1 to chest (probably feb 20th opener).
Called it there. My back was beat up, so my arch was worse than usual. Decided to call it there (with the help of Tone). No need to hurt myself, I'll push a little more next week.

tri pushdowns with green bands 2x25

Nice opener!!!

[t gale]

Hey thank you Hop.
tonite was bench nite.
bar x5
135x5
225x3
315x3
405x3
here comes stupid part. Shirt on
585x1 (3brd) felt super heavy need something in between from now on.
Went to opener
635x1 weight flew. crew said go up.
660x1 crew said still looked easy. New opener.
705x1 (2 brd) felt heavy and slow but they said flew.
Very happy and stoked with tonite considering back was still fried from other day.

[Beaker]

great lifts last night mr strong. in my expert oppinion your 705 did really move quick, but i'll keep my advice giving to a minimum.

[Brian Hopper]

Hey thank you Hop.
tonite was bench nite.
bar x5
135x5
225x3
315x3
405x3
here comes stupid part. Shirt on
585x1 (3brd) felt super heavy need something in between from now on.
Went to opener
635x1 weight flew. crew said go up.
660x1 crew said still looked easy. New opener.
705x1 (2 brd) felt heavy and slow but they said flew.
Very happy and stoked with tonite considering back was still fried from other day.

Besides that big jump in weight, nice raw and shirt work!!! So you plan on bumping up your opener?

[t gale]

Ok. New Jersey sucks it's the new alaska. I have worked 72 hours snow OT, plus my regular shift these last two weeks. Was able to get my openers in thankg god though. I've been very tired and weights are still feeling easy. will be going to the gym a few times before my feb 20 meet, just to get blood flowing, but mostly because i like getting in there and hanging with the boys. my weight is about 256 so will start my drop phase sunday. We have set my openers at 860 s/ 660 b/ and 635 d/. main goal a month ago was 2200, but the way training has been going 2250-2300 is my new goal.

[Brian C]

Kill it tomorrow bro, best of luck.

[t gale]

Meet update
My how things can change fast. Feb 11 I felt awesome, then came 9 days of hell. Snowed like crazy and i ended up working 72 hours snow ot. in those 2 weeks. Also discovered I have sleep apnea, (that's why I'm updating so late, can't get use to the stupid machine. I just got it today.)Thursday was considering calling my meet off, but then figured I would be pissed at myself if i didn't try. So i went drove up thursday about 248lbs, weigh-ins were going to be at 10 next day figured I would be ok. Wasn't counting on only getting 3 hrs sleep. ok enough crying. struggled and made weight 241.2.
Saturday woke up feeling weak and light headed, figured i would snap out of it. I went through squat warm ups and after taking 795 decided to drop my openers.
Squat 1st -800 no wraps down slow up slower. good lift
2nd-855 wraps figured at least a 5lb meet pr for the day. would be ok. good lift
3rd -900 wrapped. think i moved it about 4 inches out of the whole and told them take it. no good

bench 1st-635 also dropped opener here. good lift but slow from 3 brd up.
2nd-675 pushed it to about 2 brd height and nothing. no good.
called it there figured save something for pull. 675 wasn't moving today.

dead 1st-600 felt ok.
2nd-640. again figured at least let me get another 5lb meet pr. good lift
3rd-660. it was a struggle but a good pull for me on any day. good lift
total 2150. small meet pr. 15lb. and a 25lb dead pr. For the way I felt going into this meet I'll take it. I proved alot to myself that day and fought for every lb. no lift came easy at this meet.
So now I rest up and get back to training next week, try to learn to sleep again, and make an effort to keep weight under control.

[t gale]

Meet update
My how things can change fast. Feb 11 I felt awesome, then came 9 days of hell. Snowed like crazy and i ended up working 72 hours snow ot. in those 2 weeks. Also discovered I have sleep apnea, (that's why I'm updating so late, can't get use to the stupid machine. I just got it today.)Thursday was considering calling my meet off, but then figured I would be pissed at myself if i didn't try. So i went drove up thursday about 248lbs, weigh-ins were going to be at 10 next day figured I would be ok. Wasn't counting on only getting 3 hrs sleep. ok enough crying. struggled and made weight 241.2.
Saturday woke up feeling weak and light headed, figured i would snap out of it. I went through squat warm ups and after taking 795 decided to drop my openers.
Squat 1st -800 no wraps down slow up slower. good lift
2nd-855 wraps figured at least a 5lb meet pr for the day. would be ok. good lift
3rd -900 wrapped. think i moved it about 4 inches out of the whole and told them take it. no good

bench 1st-635 also dropped opener here. good lift but slow from 3 brd up.
2nd-675 pushed it to about 2 brd height and nothing. no good.
called it there figured save something for pull. 675 wasn't moving today.

dead 1st-600 felt ok.
2nd-640. again figured at least let me get another 5lb meet pr. good lift
3rd-660. it was a struggle but a good pull for me on any day. good lift
total 2150. small meet pr. 15lb. and a 25lb dead pr. For the way I felt going into this meet I'll take it. I proved alot to myself that day and fought for every lb. no lift came easy at this meet.
So now I rest up and get back to training next week, try to learn to sleep again, and make an effort to keep weight under control.

[Coke]

Glad you decided to get in there and compete under the ciricumstances, did very well with new PRs too...makes you wonder what will happen next time out when you are 100%.

[Brian C]

Congrats Tim! Feeling like sh1t and still hitting a small PR is still a great showing.

[Barbaccio]

He is SO understated. You have no idea how bad he felt, what he looked like, or the sh1t he went through. The guy totalled 2150 on a VERY BAD DAY. It's gonna be scary when he gets his apnea under control. I still think it's amazing that I train with one of the best 242'ers in the world.

[Beaker]

Looks like youre having some fun in the gym again Tim. I didnt see you lift wed but you looked happy and healthy afterward.

IDK if youve done 5-3-1 before but I think youll like it a lot, its cool to have structure and a set mission when you hit the gym. I like that all 4 of us are doing 531, it inspires a little bit of friendly competition within the group.

see you in the gym

[Geometheus]

Good work ont he new meet PRs. Given the situation it is impressive to say the least that you were able to keep with it despite all the obsticles thrown at you.

[NickAus]

Inspiring stuff hitting a PR while in a bad state, great work in here!

[t gale]

Thank you everyone. After a horrible week leading up to meet, and a bad showing (in my eyes )at the meet, wasn"t sure where I was heading. Week or 2 before meet found out I had sleep apnea which still to this point is giving me some issues. I'm still not used to cpap. I have had the machine for about 2 weeks, and last week was sick so really didn't even attempt to use machine.
2 weeks before meet my weight was about 265 and i was having hard time breathing and just felt uncomfortable doing just about anything. Since then I have my weight down to 239 and am feeling and looking a whole lot better. So now at cross roads do I want to keep dropping and make a run at 220 or stay in the 235-245 range.
Definitely motivated to train now. took 1 week off after meet and this is my second week of training. Some drop off in strength, but more factors than just weight loss. So until I figure what weight class I'm staying with 3 day a week training. Saturday squatting, Monday bench and dead on wednesdays. Looking forward to pulling, trying 5/3/1 for deadlift.

[t gale]

ok, pulled today.
135x8,5
225x3
315x3
370x3
425x3
480x10(very happy with this. pretty sure it was a rep pr)

100lb db rows 3x10
box jumps only 2 rounds of 20 on 10 off. out of shape bad.

sit up challenge Tone showed me at home.

[Barbaccio]

You look alot better buddy. You'll be strong at any weight class. 2200 at 220 would be a nice achievable goal for you!

[t gale]

Thank you for your encouragement once again Tone. Will be tough mentally and physically to get there though.
Sorry for sneaking in extra workout, but i need it.(haha)

power cleans (to get loose)135x12
Lat pulldowns wide grip 3x15
close grip 3x10
face pulls 3x12
tri pushdowns 2x25
hammer curls 2x12

30 mins in treadmill. tried to keep heart rate less than 130 whole time. speed 3.3 inc 4.0
wt. still 239

[t gale]

saturday training in maryland.
my weight was 238. pleased with that. feeling healthier.
Box squat w/blue band
135,225x3
325x2x4sets
375x2x2
415x2x2
465x2
505x1

speed pull (quad minis)
315x1x4sets
365x1x4

2 sets of standing cable crunches.

[Coke]

Box squats are super Tim.

[Brian Hopper]

Hey Tim, im sorry to hear that things didn't go your way at your meet. But at least you walked away with some PR's brother!!!! By the way your come back training is looking pretty good. So I see you are interested in trying the 220's!!!! I thought about it, but I don't think I can drop the weight from where im at now. This past meet I lost 15lbs to weigh in @242 and it sucked. So I would need to walk around at least 225-230lbs for me to lift in the 220's. Best of luck to you either way!!!

[Barbaccio]

Hopper, you wouldn't believe him to see him in person. He was 263 at his heaviest before the meet. Bloated as hell, looked terrible and sick all the time. All the stress of the job, sleep apnea, etc. Now he's down to 239 without really even trying. I think he could make the 220's. Wouldn't be completely easy, but it wouldn't be a huge struggle either. His strength is still there and the 505 w/ blue band went up easy. It's easy to stay motivated when you have that caliber of lifter next to you in the gym day after day. The guy is scary and really has no idea how strong he is.

[Brian C]

Tim, you really are an inspiration. Your training and strength is nothing short of amazing. Im glad to have met you and the rest of the guys. Now that I have weekends off, I look forward to being able to squat with you guys. I have a lot to learn and some of the best guys in the world to learn from. I know its been awhile since ive been around, but its not because I didnt want to be there. As we all know, sometimes this sh1t takes a back seat to the family. I finally have things in order and can start back training with all you at Rocks. See you soon bro.