My raw journey to 1900...

[HJP]

Nice work breaking in the home gym!!! Going to have some mint equipment man, those bars will last for ages an ages!

[GazzyG]

Wish you and your home gym many happy years together, Bri!

[Brian Hopper]

Just squat with that cambered bar until you get a squat bar, lol. The squat bar will feel great after a few weeks with that.

I don't know that the touch and go or reset matters that much on deadlifts. Not that I'm amazing at that lift at all, but of all the big lifters I know, it's mixed. And a few rarely ever do reps at all. The only reason I like to reset most of the time is to get in the same starting position, because my form is shitty if I don't always think about it in training. I have tried both ways and I don't think either made a significant difference though.

I'm thinking about it, but not sure yet. I see what you mean about the bar. The handles where you would grab are too close. So far it worked out good for the GM's, but not sure about heavy squats. That blue one we had was perfect.

As far as the deadlifts, I always hear that resetting the reps each time is perfect for building speed off the floor, which I do agree on. But pulling reps and resetting each rep sucks ass, lol. I'll find out if there's a difference when I go for a max single, if it's good i'll keep doing what im doing.

Good deal, lol - knew it was coming.

Thanks alot Coke!!!

all great training brian...you do what you have to do...youre bull strong and what youre doing is working!!! Keep up the great work brotha!!!

Thanks alot Chase, I appreciate it!!!

[Brian Hopper]

Nice work breaking in the home gym!!! Going to have some mint equipment man, those bars will last for ages an ages!

Thanks Hayden, i'm looking forward to buying some more, lol. I do plan on spending some money on good equipment, because I plan on keeping it for a long time.

Wish you and your home gym many happy years together, Bri!

Thanks alot Gaz, I appreciate the support!!!

[April Mathis]

I'm thinking about it, but not sure yet. I see what you mean about the bar. The handles where you would grab are too close. So far it worked out good for the GM's, but not sure about heavy squats. That blue one we had was perfect.

No it's not the handles. I don't have much shoulder flexibility at all, and I have no problem at all grabbing the handles comfortably. It just sucks to squat with. It might not be as bad for you, since I don't think you lean as far forward like I do. But it causes a lot of back pain to squat with if you do and just feels uncomfortable. Especially reps is horrible. (Anyone who stays upright seems to have a much easier time with it and not experience the same thing.) However, I did squat 605 deep and not too hard with it. Walking out will really, really suck going heavy with it though. I know you walk out a lot anyways, so again you might be more used to it, but it swings back and forward a lot. So just a warning on that.....However, I say I hate it and I do, yet I've already squatted with it 3 or 4 times.

[Brian C]

I like the philosophy of >3 reps to touch and go. Time under tension as Jesse Burdick preaches.

Congrats on breaking in the home gym buddy. That garage is going to see some strong ass lifting coming its way!

[Brian Hopper]

No it's not the handles. I don't have much shoulder flexibility at all, and I have no problem at all grabbing the handles comfortably. It just sucks to squat with. It might not be as bad for you, since I don't think you lean as far forward like I do. But it causes a lot of back pain to squat with if you do and just feels uncomfortable. Especially reps is horrible. (Anyone who stays upright seems to have a much easier time with it and not experience the same thing.) However, I did squat 605 deep and not too hard with it. Walking out will really, really suck going heavy with it though. I know you walk out a lot anyways, so again you might be more used to it, but it swings back and forward a lot. So just a warning on that.....However, I say I hate it and I do, yet I've already squatted with it 3 or 4 times.

Oh, well the handles on mine are pretty close. I'm sure i'll be fine squatting with the bar. Plus the added rocking back and forth will help me out when walking weight out. I remember watching John do box squats with the cambered bar plus the 70lb KB's hanging from each side, lol.

I like the philosophy of >3 reps to touch and go. Time under tension as Jesse Burdick preaches.

Congrats on breaking in the home gym buddy. That garage is going to see some strong ass lifting coming its way!

Thanks, it's just something i'm going to try and see if it makes a difference. I put it to good use today too

[Brian Hopper]

Monday
03/26/12
BP-75%

Bench Press
Bar x 10
135 x 10
135 x 3
225 x 3
275 x 3
335/5x3
335 x 5

Dead press
135 x 3
225/2x1
315/8x1

JM presses
135 x 10
155 x 10
175/3x10

Close grip incline presses
135 x 10
185/2x8

Barbell front raises
45 x 10
65/3x10

Pressdowns w/monster minis
Band/3x20

Decline situps
BW x 10
BW+15/2x10


****************************************
I trained at home today and it wasn't that bad. I also had to train by myself because my training partner is sick. I was suppose to bench 6x3 with 330, but I don't have any 2.5lb plates yet. So instead of going down, I went up to 335. I'll probably have to do the same thing tomorrow if I squat and pull at home.

[Coke]

Stellar effort on the homefront dude.

[Barbaccio]

Good stuff B. I always round up too. Especially if I'm feeling good. 2.5's shouldn't be used often. Just round it to 5's lol.

[April Mathis]

Oh, well the handles on mine are pretty close. I'm sure i'll be fine squatting with the bar. Plus the added rocking back and forth will help me out when walking weight out. I remember watching John do box squats with the cambered bar plus the 70lb KB's hanging from each side, lol.

It's about the same. I had to be careful not to hit my hands on the power rack putting it back, so it looks about the same on yours.

And that would suck with hanging kbs lol.

[HJP]

Rounding up! Nice man. Strong work on the bench, nailed more than the prescribed with ease

[Brian Hopper]

Stellar effort on the homefront dude.

Thanks Coke!!!

Good stuff B. I always round up too. Especially if I'm feeling good. 2.5's shouldn't be used often. Just round it to 5's lol.

Thanks Tone, I'll be doing the same tomorrow

It's about the same. I had to be careful not to hit my hands on the power rack putting it back, so it looks about the same on yours.

And that would suck with hanging kbs lol.

Same here, I have to rack it slow so my fingers won't get pinched.

Rounding up! Nice man. Strong work on the bench, nailed more than the prescribed with ease

Thanks Hayden, remember....always round up!!!! LOL

[Tim K]

Home gyms are very nice!

[Brian Hopper]

Home gyms are very nice!

So far so good, lol

[GazzyG]

lol, not got smal enough plates so gonna use more weight - classic.

[LuNa]

Lots of pressing volume Brian, great work.

[Brian Hopper]

lol, not got smal enough plates so gonna use more weight - classic.

I did make the effort today to buy some 2.5lb plates, but they didn't have Olympic size. So rounding up will have to do lol.

Lots of pressing volume Brian, great work.

Thanks Luna!!!

[Pete Bush]

Thanks for not banning me. I forgot that we do not know each other that well and my frisky comment may come across as strange.

Jealous again on the bars. As soon as I get this last kid outta the house, I am doing the home gym thing. Swear to goodness.

Might do that on the training log thing, just copy and past from my training log and double up the number of people who can wonder what the hell I am doing.

[Brian Hopper]

Thanks for not banning me. I forgot that we do not know each other that well and my frisky comment may come across as strange.

Jealous again on the bars. As soon as I get this last kid outta the house, I am doing the home gym thing. Swear to goodness.

Might do that on the training log thing, just copy and past from my training log and double up the number of people who can wonder what the hell I am doing.

Haha, it's all good. Today was my second day training at home and it wasn't that bad, so far so good. Do you keep a log somewhere? I also have a log on the USPA website and RawPL.com, but I spend more time over here.

[Brian Hopper]

2nd day training @ home

Tuesday
03/27/12
SQ/DL

Squat-75%
Bar x 10
135/2x5
225/2x5
315 x 3
405 x 3
Added knee sleeves
495/5x3
495 x 5

Deadlift-80%
225 x 3
315 x 3
405 x 3
495 x 3
Added belt
565/3x5

Barbell Shrugs
135 x 10
225 x 10
315 x 10
365/2x10


****************************************
Another decent day training at home I'm not going to lie, the weights felt heavy but I finished the reps and sets I was suppose to do so that's a plus. I also want to add that my new DL bar is SHARP!!! lol

[Barbaccio]

Nice work B. Nice to walk out of the gym hitting your numbers and feeling satisfied. Keeps the drive going!

[Brian Hopper]

Nice work B. Nice to walk out of the gym hitting your numbers and feeling satisfied. Keeps the drive going!

Thanks Tone!!! Yeah, I am happy with today even though the weights weren't flying. I'm just pleased I finished the day.

[MarcusWild]

New DL bars are the best. That was a good investment to make. It'll last forever.

[Brian Hopper]

New DL bars are the best. That was a good investment to make. It'll last forever.

I hope so, my next bar purchase is going to be a Texas squat bar. Hopefully I'll be able to get that one within the next week or so. Then it will be a SSB...my favorite