M19 W1 Deadlift Training

Deadlift Training
Mesocycle 19 - Week 1

Beginning Thoughts:

Just got back from the gym...So tired!

Workout:

Deadlifts:
415 lbs x 3 reps
455 lbs x 3 reps
455 lbs x 3 reps
435 lbs x 3 reps
435 lbs x 3 reps
The goal was to add density to today's training in comparison to M18 W3 Doubles training....My grip was better than last week but it gave me some trouble on the last reps of every set. Lots of rest in between sets - over 10 minutes every time. This workout took a lot out of me.

Hand Extensions:
2 bands x 15 reps x 3 sets

Swiss Ball Jackknife Pikes:
Skipped

Videos:

Deadlifts:

Overall Impression:

So I ran this little experiment. I can't help but sleep on my stomach spread eagled on the bed. I just cannot sleep in any other position. But, this awkward position has lead to some hyperextension of the back at night and it's been affecting my negatively because I've been experiencing some back pains - lower back tightness and easy fatigue in general. But, over the last 10 days I have struggled and tried my very best to sleep strictly on my back and it's been a pain in the ass but I have managed to sleep in that fashion for almost all the nights. And I could REALLY sense the difference right from day one actually. Almost NO lower back tightness! I hope this lasts. It's not a big deal but I hate sleeping on my back. Zero comfort.

I hope everyone's had a good week. My weekend has already begun! 

M18 W4 Full Body Training

Full Body Training
Mesocycle 18 - Week 4

Beginning Thoughts:

Tonight's workout...

Workout:

Front Squats:
190 lbs x 8 reps x 2 sets @ 67.5 lbs
I was sooooo sore today!!!

Pull-ups:
BW x 11 reps
BW x 10 reps
BW x 9 reps
BW x 7 reps
Total = 37 reps
I learnt a new tactic to do these...I am very proud of the first set.

Unilateral Press:
70 lbs x 5 reps x 3 sets

Overhead Press:
135 lbs x 5 reps
145 lbs x 5 reps
155 lbs x 5 reps
Very difficult...

Weird Ab Exercise:
BW x 7 reps x 2 sets

Videos:

Front Squats, Pull-ups, Unilateral Press, Overhead Press and Weird Ab Exercise:

Overall Impression:

My plan is to sleep for 8 hours Wednesday night. I am going to strive to make it happen. These 3-6 hour nights are destroying me.

M18 W4 Squat Training

Squat Training
Mesocycle 18 - Week 4

Beginning Thoughts:

This is last night's workout. I had an exam today on "Religions in the US"...I am glad I took this elective. Very informative and it's damn interesting to learn about how the United States came about to being. I remember studying a very brief version of this in like 5th grade. Now I learning about it in-depth and I think it's one of my two favorite courses this semester.

Workout:

Front Squats:
275 lbs x 1 rep @ 97.5%
245 lbs x 3 reps x 5 sets @ 87.5%
275 lbs x 1 rep @ 97.5%
Decent. I did an extra set at the end with 275 for myself.

Metabolic Conditioning for 1 round:
Kettlebell Swings = 65 lbs x 15 reps
Renegade Rows = 45 lbs x 7 reps
Unilateral RDLs = 65 lbs x 12 reps
Dumbbell Windmills = 30 lbs x 10 reps
This is a kinda low volume week so only one round. I tried Kettlebell Swings for the first time and I don't think I did them right. I should've used a lighter weight but I do think that some of the reps were clean - just not most.

Grip Training:
Regular Walmart Gripper for few sets and reps as a warm-up
Heavy Grips 150 lbs x 6 reps x 2 sets
CoC #1 x 2 reps
Heavy Grips 150 lbs x 5 reps x 2 sets

Videos:

Front Squats & Metabolic Conditioning:


My boy Paul Roa hit a bench press of 305x1 and 320x1:

Overall Impression:

My friend Paul Roa hit some awesome numbers on his bench yesterday. He's hovering around 220-225 lbs and he managed to nail a 305 and 320 bench!

I hope everyone has had a good weekend. I went and saw Valentine's Day. It was good....similar to He's Just Not That Into You. I liked it. Decent chick flick.

I saw the trailer for Brooklyn's Finest. Man...I'm pumped. I've always wanted to be a cop. If I make a billion dollars before I'm 30, I'm gonna go to police academy. It's a very honorable job inspite of all the **** it gets, IMO.

Anyway, I hope y'all are having a fun Monday. Have a good week ahead guys and gals! 

M18 W4 Back Training

Back Training
Mesocycle 18 - Week 4

Beginning Thoughts:

This is yesterday's workout..

Workout:

Weighted Pull-ups:
BW + 20 lbs x 3 reps
BW + 20 lbs x 3 reps
BW + 30 lbs x 3 reps
BW + 40 lbs x 3 reps
BW + 40 lbs x 3 reps
BW + 30 lbs x 3 reps
Total = 18 reps
Felt good.

Dumbbell Rows:
110 lbs x 5 reps
115 lbs x 5 reps
120 lbs x 5 reps x 3 sets
Used straps for the 120s..

Cable Rows:
170 lbs x 12 reps
180 lbs x 12 reps x 2 sets

Facepulls:
60 lbs x 15 reps
80 lbs x 15 reps
100 lbs x 15 reps

Videos:

Pull-ups & Dumbbell Rows:

Overall Impression:

Today is rest day 

M18 W4 Deadlift Training

Deadlift Training
Mesocycle 18 - Week 4

Beginning Thoughts:

The world famous comedian Maz Jobrani had come to my University tonight for a show and I decided to attend it. It was hilarious!!!

Workout:

Deadlifts:
420 lbs x 2 reps
430 lbs x 2 reps
430 lbs x 5 reps
Several things to note here. First off: my grip failed. The 430x2 set involved me holding the bar right from the get go using just my fingers. My thumbs just deserted me. My form was naturally hideous. So basically, my grip was an over/under hook grip. WTF??? I was prepared for this on my last set and therefore I think my form was WAY better on the 430x5 set. It could've been better but my grip failed me. I know why this is though: sometimes when you do lots of grip training, your body needs time to adjust to it - like a lag period. So hopefully in the next few weeks my grip won't slip away from me.

Pistol Squats:
3 + 3 = 6 reps
I haven't done these in such a long time!!! I am gad I've been able to move my schedule around and fit them in. I will get better at them shortly. I want to hit 15 reps straight.

Swiss Ball Jackknife Pikes:
BW x 10 reps x 2 sets

Hand Extensions:
2 bands x 10 reps x 3 sets

Videos:

Deadlifts:


My boy Paul Roa hit a 405 Deadlift for 2 as well!!!

Overall Impression:

Gonna go see Valentine's Day tomorrow with the gf and then Shutter Island on Saturday. I also have a ****load of studying to do this weekend...With this being the last semester at school and the ****ty condition of the job market I am becoming lesser and lesser motivated to excel at school. But, I know my hard work will pay off somewhere down the line. I hope.

Have a fun Friday everyone and thanks for dropping by!!! 

M18 W3 Full Body Training

Full Body Training
Mesocycle 18 - Week 3

Beginning Thoughts:

This is last night's workout...I had been running on 4 hours of sleep.

Workout:

Front Squats:
170 lbs x 3 reps x 8 sets @ 60%
I need two squat days for this Brad Gilingham cycle and I've been juggling with trying to figure out where to put these. Now I know.

Pull-ups:
BW x 10 reps
BW x 9 reps
BW x 9 reps
BW x 8 reps
Total = 36 reps
Awesome.

Close Grip Bench Press:
185 lbs x 5 reps x 3 sets

Front Plank Variation:
BW x 60 seconds x 3 sets

Weird Ab Exercise:
BW x 5 reps x 2 sets

Videos:

Front Squats, Pull-ups, Close Grip Bench Press, Front Plank Variation and Weird Ab Exercise:

Overall Impression:

I slept for 10 hours straight last night. Feels great!

M18 W3 Squat Training

Squat Training
Mesocycle 18 - Week 3

Beginning Thoughts:

I have a hell week up ahead of me...

Workout:

Front Squats:
270 lbs x 1 rep @ 95%
245 lbs x 3 reps @ 85%+
240 lbs x 3 reps x 4 sets
Very trying.

Metabolic Conditioning for 2 rounds:
Barbell Reverse Lunges using Front Squat Grip = 65 lbs x 8 reps
Renegade Rows = 45 lbs x 5 reps
Unilateral RDLs = 65 lbs x 10 reps
Dumbbell Windmills = 30 lbs x 10 reps
Nearly threw up...

Grip Training:
Regular Walmart Gripper for few sets and reps as a warm-up
Heavy Grips 150 lbs x 5 reps x 2 sets
CoC #1 x 1 rep x 3 attempts...barely got 1 rep lol...
Heavy Grips 150 lbs x 5 reps x 2 sets
This is so damn difficult!!! But, I am sure I am gonna nail this in a few weeks. I also did like 5 hand extension sets over the course of this. 3 of the 5 sets I mentioned right now were done as a cool-down of sorts...

Videos:

Front Squats & Metabolic Conditioning:


Grip Training:

Overall Impression:

Had a decent weekend. Lots of studying but I did go see Wolfman which was terribly disappointing. On a different note: any of you guys watch Spartacus: Blood and Sand? Awesome show...mainly because the sex scenes are awesome (lol) but I think it's got potential. I do think it's not as awesome as Gladiator or 300 but I think the comic book type cinematography grows on you..

M18 W3 Deadlift Training

Deadlift Training
Mesocycle 18 - Week 3

Beginning Thoughts:

Last semester at school and I think it's gonna be my most difficult yet.

Workout:

Deadlifts:
415 lbs x 5 reps
425 lbs x 2 reps
420 lbs x 5 reps
430 lbs x 2 reps
425 lbs x 5 reps
My hands were hurting like a bitch today. I cannot describe the pain. Firstly: the weather over the last 2 days has sucked. I am not used to less than 50F temperatures and the main reason I chose Trinity University over all the other universities which accepted me was because I knew I'd love Texas weather. Well, right now my body is definitely NOT loving it. Infact, I am pretty darn sure my body hates this weather. I have never felt this lethargic and tired all the time....plus I've hardly been eating good food which all adds up in the end. At the same time, the cold is messing up my hands: my calluses are hurting painfully and gripping the bar is very painful. Usually, I switch my over/under grip to under/over every rep to keep symmetry and not allow my body to get used to just one grip. But, today, my hands were practically frozen in pain so I kept the grip to one side the entire set - and even then it was a painful experience. I almost threw up after set #3 but I kept going. One smart decision was to take adequate rest....most of the time I took 7-10 minutes between sets and that helped me recharge my batteries.

Front Squats:
Skipped

Swiss Ball Jackknife Pikes:
Skipped

Hand Extensions:
2 bands x 10 reps x 3 sets

Videos:

Deadlifts:

Overall Impression:

I am gonna rest and eat and sleep in and tomorrow I might skip my back workout if I feel like absolute ****. I felt just fine going into the workout today though....it was just like all of a sudden after my warm-ups I just sat down for my usual 3 minute rest and I was reading a novel (I do that in between sets sometimes) and then all of a sudden my energy was just zapped. I had zero motivation. And this was even before I had started my first working set. Normally, if I ever get this feeling of tiredness and wanting to just be done with my workout its usually before my last set or so but never before my first set. What a pity. Hopefully next week I'll feel better. My form wasn't that awesome on the sets either. I just couldn't focus 100%. But, what I did do is watch some motivating videos of Konstantinovs and Magnusson which did the trick for the time being. Visual imagery always helps me focus better.

I hope everyone's had a good week. Tomorrow is Friday!!! 

Cheers everyone and thanks for reading!

M18 W2 Full Body Training

Full Body Training
Mesocycle 18 - Week 2

Beginning Thoughts:

Body was extremely sore!

Workout:

Pistol Squats:
Skipped. Too sore.

Incline Close Grip Crazy Bell Bench Press:
185 lbs x 3 reps
195 lbs x 2 reps
205 lbs x 1 rep
195 lbs x 2 reps
185 lbs x 5 reps

Pull-ups:
BW x 9 reps
BW x 8 reps
BW x 6 + 2 reps
BW x 8 + 2 reps
Total = 35 reps

Overhead Press:
155 lbs x 5 reps x 3 sets

Push-ups:
BW x 10 reps x 2 sets

Hammer Grip Chin-ups:
BW x 5 reps x 2 sets
Great finisher...

Videos:

Incline Close Grip Crazy Bell Bench Press, Pull-ups, Overhead Press & Hammer Grip Chin-ups :

Overall Impression:

Exhausted. This was last night's workout. Since then I've had 3 slices of cheese pizza....haha!

Hope everyone's having a good week. Thanks for reading! 

M18 W2 Squat Training

Squat Training
Mesocycle 18 - Week 2

Beginning Thoughts:

Working out Sunday night is awesome. Gym is ALWAYS empty 

Workout:

Front Squats:
260 lbs x 1 rep @ 92.5%
230 lbs x 3 reps x 5 sets @ 82.5%
Damn difficult...

Farmers Walks:
105 lbs x 2 trips x 3 sets

Metabolic Conditioning for 2 rounds:
Barbell Reverse Lunges using Front Squat Grip = 65 lbs x 8 reps
Dumbbell Windmills = 30 lbs x 8 reps
Unilateral RDLs = 65 lbs x 7 reps
Renegade Rows = 40 lbs x 7 reps
Nearly threw up...

Grip Training:
Crushers @ 150 lbs for several sets, reps and static holds
I just purchased a #1 CoC...Waiting for it to get here.

Videos:

Front Squats & Metabolic Conditioning:

Overall Impression:

Hope everyone had a great weekend!!! 

M18 W2 Back Training

Back Training
Mesocycle 18 - Week 2

Beginning Thoughts:

Just got back from the gym...I forgot to mention this but my calluses are hurting like hell today. They were hurting yesterday as well and were a limiting factor of sorts on my Deadlifts but today the pain was close to unbearable yet I didn't use my straps till Facepulls rolled around 

Workout:

Weighted Pull-ups:
BW + 20 lbs x 3 reps
BW + 30 lbs x 3 reps
BW + 40 lbs x 3 reps
BW + 50 lbs x 1 rep x 2 sets
BW + 30 lbs x 4 reps
Total = 15 reps
Last time I was too toasted after Dumbbell Rows to do Pull-ups so this week I switched the order around.

Dumbbell Rows:
110 lbs x 5 reps x 2 sets
115 lbs x 5 reps x 2 sets
120 lbs x 5 reps

Cable Rows:
170 lbs x 12 reps x 3 sets
200 lbs x 5 reps

Facepulls:
60 lbs x 15 reps
80 lbs x 15 reps
100 lbs x 15 reps

Front Planks using alternate arm and leg:
BW x 60 seconds x 2 sets

Videos:

Pull-ups & Dumbbell Rows:

Overall Impression:

Gonna go be a pig tonight and eat a lot. Hopefully recovery will be fast that way 

M18 W2 Deadlift Training

Deadlift Training
Mesocycle 18 - Week 2

Beginning Thoughts:

Felt like absolute crap today. I've had so much school work to do that I was/am beat.

Workout:

Deadlifts:
415 lbs x 2 reps
435 lbs x 2 reps
455 lbs x 2 reps
455 lbs x 2 reps
435 lbs x 2 reps
Another week of doubles...

Front Squats:
170 lbs x 3 reps x 8 sets
Done real fast....

Swiss Ball Jackknife Pikes:
BW x 8 reps x 3 sets

Hand Extensions:
2 bands x 10 reps x 3 sets

Videos:

Deadlifts & Front Squats with my boy Darien hitting a 505 Deadlift!!!:

Overall Impression:

Oooooh the weekend is so close!!! 

M18 W1 Full Body Training

Full Body Training
Mesocycle 18 - Week 1

Beginning Thoughts:

Last night's workout....

Workout:

Pistol Squats:
6 +6 + 6 = 18 reps
Decent

Overhead Press:
155 lbs x 3 reps
160 lbs x 3 reps
165 lbs x 3 reps
170 lbs x 3 reps
175 lbs x 2 reps
180 lbs x 1 rep

Pull-ups:
BW x 8 reps
BW x 8 reps
BW x 8 reps
BW x 8 + 2 reps
Total = 34 reps
I managed to hit my goal of 30 reps in 3 sets last mesocycle. So now my new goal is to hit 40 reps in 4 sets.

Unilateral Press:
60 lbs x 7 reps
70 lbs x 4 reps

Push-ups:
BW x 15 reps x 2 sets
Unilateral Presses and Push-ups were super-setted.

Hammer Grip Chin-ups:
BW x 6 reps x 2 sets
Great finisher...

Videos:

Pistol Squats, Overhead Press, Pull-ups, Push-ups, Unilateral Press & Hammer Grip Chin-ups:

Overall Impression:

Ate like a pig...Terrible self discipline.

M18 W1 Squat Training

Squat Training
Mesocycle 18 - Week 1

Beginning Thoughts:

Just got back from the gym...

Workout:

Front Squats:
255 lbs x 1 rep @ 90%
225 lbs x 5 reps x 3 sets @ 80%
Running the Gillingham cycle right now. My boy Xiva from Muscle Mecca suggested this cycle...Let's hope I make some gains on it! 

Metabolic Conditioning for 2 rounds:
Unilateral RDLs = 25 lbs x 7 reps
Swiss Ball Jackknife Pikes = BW x 10 reps
Cable Pull-throughs = 80 lbs x 12 reps
Side Plank Rows = BW x 30 seconds
I haven't done any conditioning training in like 5 months now. I want to get back to doing this more regularly because it keeps me in good shape. I have to make sure I don't overdo it because this stuff drains me. Today was a reasonable okay day and I managed to do some good. My form was kinda iffy on several sets (y'all can see that in the video) but it will improve.

Grip Training:
Crushers @ 150N for several sets, reps and static holds
I managed to get my hands on one of these crushers (CoC I think) and I used it. Pretty cool.

Videos:

Front Squats & Metabolic Conditioning:

Overall Impression:

Pretty tiring workout....