Journey to Elite

[napalm]

It felt different than it did about 8 weeks ago. It has more to do with being flat in the arms than the shirt.

You didn't answer my question...

 

[Rodja]

You didn't answer my question...

My first shirts is this Ace. It has a steep learning curve, but is a great shirt.

 

[napalm]

My first shirts is this Ace. It has a steep learning curve, but is a great shirt.

God, I'm leaning towards the ace pro now...

 

[herderdude]

God, I'm leaning towards the ace pro now...

Possibly a Bash? Ask Jo Jordan, he's gotten back to me quickly on multiple occasions.

 

[napalm]

Possibly a Bash? Ask Jo Jordan, he's gotten back to me quickly on multiple occasions.

isn't that single ply? <---so confused...

 

[herderdude]

isn't that single ply? <---so confused...

They have a single ply bash, but I was looking at this guy:

http://www.flexcart.com/members/elitefts/default.asp?m=PD&cid=204&pid=1480

 

[napalm]

They have a single ply bash, but I was looking at this guy: http://www.flexcart.com/members/elitefts/default.asp?m=PD&cid=204&pid=1480

I think I love you...

Decision made

I saw it but didn't pay much attn, was paying attn to the new ones

 

[napalm]

3-4 inch groove wiggle...

 

[Rodja]

I'd get a used Ace shirt. Mine still has plenty of life in it, but it's too big for me now. Ace gear lasts ages.

 

[Rodja]

11/11 Upper

Dips
BW+90x6 PR
BW+45x14 PR

Meadows Rows
90x15
115x15x2
135x10-drop-90x10

OHP
140x6x3

Lat Pulldowns
200x10
220x10x2
220x10-drop-150x10

BB Curls/Side Laterals
85x10x3/25x10x3

Pressdowns/Pullaparts
110x15x3/15x3

I had to cram in this session today since I have a tattoo appt tomorrow and won't be abel to train afterwards. I was a tad lethargic going into it, but something clicked after I did my warm up and mobility work. Hit PRs on dips and kept a good pace on the rest of the day. I decided in drop sets to kick up the intensity and for extra volume as well.

 

[Rodja]

My ego is killing me to do this, but I'm taking a few days off from training. I'll still be doing mobility work for my hips during the week even though I'm taking the rest of the week off from training.

 

[Sean1332]

It'll be worth it.

 

[PaulBlack]

My ego is killing me to do this, but I'm taking a few days off from training.

If anything has kept me from "intelligently" moving ahead at times, it is that ^.
It took me a long time, but sometimes I listen to the little R2D2 drone inside, that says do this not that and I end up better for it.

 

[napalm]

Meh, no big deal.

Missing a couple training sessions over the course of thousands is no big thing...

 

[Rodja]

11/19 Upper

OHP
135x5
145x5
155x5
135x10

HS Rows
180x10x4

Dips
BW+45x10x3

Hammer Curls
50x10x3

First day back in the gym and it was a relatively uneventful session. I was a little fuzzy and lethargic throughout and I noticed my reps were down a bit. Nothing to worry about, though, as I'll rebound quickly and I wasn't overly diligent with my nutrition for the past week.

 

[CountryLiftin]

Subb'd, never saw you had a new log. Looks like good things in here other than the nagging injuries.

 

[Rodja]

Bad news: I may have to hang up my belt for awhile. I was pulling this evening and I lost my footing. The bar drifted and my lumbar shifted. I immediately dropped the weight. There's a bit of tenderness in the area, but it's not debilitating. I can't palpate the area very well to decide what's going on. However, my thoughts are that it is the QL as it has been tight for a long time and this area was previously injured ~10 years ago. That one took me months to recover from and I'm really hoping this isn't as serious.

 

[CountryLiftin]

Hope everything is alright man and it just seems worse than it is.

 

[rob112]

Do what you can and get that health back up. Hopefully it's nothing too bad. Heal up man.

 

[herderdude]

Wishing you good luck and a speedy recovery, man.

 

[jimbuick]

Your lumbar shifted?

 

[Rodja]

Your lumbar shifted?

It felt like the vertebrae shifted slightly before going back. I'm almost certain that it is my QL that I have irritated.

 

[napalm]

I wouldn't try to guess at this, go see a sports medicine guy...

 

[Rodja]

It's definitely QL with some psoas irritation. None of this is new as I deal with this **** at different levels each day. On a better note, it's not as bad as I initially thought and there's no spasms or radiating pain. Lots of tightness and extra inflammation in the area, but I'm still able to walk.

 

[Rodja]

http://www.arctraining.ca/picker/userData/sheren-newsletter-trigger-point-release-and-stretch-of-the-qls.pdf.pdf

This is exactly my issue. The referred pain on the second diagram is the area that has been tight in addition to the QL lately and distance driving, which I do frequently is known to exacerbate the issue.

 

[rob112]

http://www.arctraining.ca/picker/userData/sheren-newsletter-trigger-point-release-and-stretch-of-the-qls.pdf.pdf

This is exactly my issue. The referred pain on the second diagram is the area that has been tight in addition to the QL lately and distance driving, which I do frequently is known to exacerbate the issue.

Awesome article. I get a lot of this on my right side(sometimes left). Will try today.

 

[Rodja]

I tried to get in some light squat work, but even the bar hurt so I did some random light upper body work (incline bench, pullups, curls, pullaparts). This ****ing sucks.

 

[drinkyboy]

Could this be a cause for sciatica or be mistaken as sciatica? Reason I ask is I have tender spots where the x's are on that diagram ever since I was down with sciatica and feel as if I never fully recovered from. Cant deadlift half of what I use to and same with squatting...cause pain in those areas.

 

[Rodja]

Could this be a cause for sciatica or be mistaken as sciatica? Reason I ask is I have tender spots where the x's are on that diagram ever since I was down with sciatica and feel as if I never fully recovered from. Cant deadlift half of what I use to and same with squatting...cause pain in those areas.

Sciatica will radiate down the hamstrings and into the calf depending on the severity.

 

[drinkyboy]

And it did. Thanks for the response.

 

[Rodja]

Ok fellas, I have a tentative plan for the rest of the year. Upper body will remain virtually status quo with the only alteration being taking out bench and using floor press and incline as the ME with dips and seated DB press for my vertical pressing work. OHP doesn't put much stress on my back, but I don't want to risk it.

Lower body will be very, very boring as I'm pretty limited. I have a friend that manages a gym about 20 mins away that has a GHR and I'll be using a lot of that, walking lunges, and BSS. Core work will be primarily anti-lateral flexion and rotational work.

 

[Rodja]

11/26 Upper

Dips
BW+45x10x2
BW+45x15 PR

HS Uni Row
135x10
160x10x3

Lat Pulldowns
200x10x3

Seated DB Press
60x10x2

Hammer Curls
50x10x2

Ugh, I hate being limited and having to hold back on my weights. I did set a PR, but I do attribute that to a lack of fatigue to the muscle from not pushing the earlier sets. I'm trying to really stay positive about this entire situation and I know that it's going to be awhile before I have a bar on my back.

 

[Rodja]

11/29

Floor Press
225x5
235x3
250x3

Pullups
BWx8
BW+20x5x3

Incline DB Press
70x10
75x8
80x8
85x8
90x8

Meadows Row
70x15
90x12x3

Cambered Curls/Pullaparts/Pressdowns
95x8/15/110x15
95x8/15/110x15

You know, I had a very big thing happen today: I had fun in the gym. I really can't say the last time I had fun training since I've been so inconsistent and stagnant for months now. I'm not saying that I've hated training, but it felt like more of a chore than a hobby. Maybe this setback has allowed my head to recharge and it's definitely forcing me to become more cerebral with my training. The back is feeling better by the day and I hope to be 100% by January.

 

[Sean1332]

That's what it should be about: fun. It's easy to stress over though. Especially if meets/injuries are involved. Good shït dude.

 

[rob112]

Powerlifting reminds me of when I used to play in bands in the sense it has that ability to have people forget why they started in the first place. The sheer enjoyment. Id imagine even more so as your skill is higher. Glad you are enjoying the workouts man. Find the line.

 

[CountryLiftin]

Hell yea man. I try to get some enjoyment every day I go to train, one way or another. Good workout too.

 

[Rodja]

I had the tell take sign of a bitchin' session: cramping throughout the evening. Showering took 20 mins because I kept having to take breaks while washing my hair because of brachioradialis cramps.

 

[Rodja]

12/2

OHP
135x8x2
145x8
145x7

Wide HS Row
160x10
180x8x3

Incline DB Press
70x12x3

V-Pressdowns (w/ Fat Gripz)/Seated DB Clean
90x12x3/20x8x3

DB Curls
45x8x2

I absolutely love it when you have those days where you don't want to train, but something clicks as soon as you get there and lock in on training. I only had to pull back on OHP since I use a staggered stance with my right light behind and it puts some slight strain on the QL and I went with more of a volume type of day as a result. I bought some new toys over the weekend as well. I got some new wrist straps, some MFR tools, a thigh sleeve, some liniment, and a Titan Super Ram. I'll be using this ASAP, which will likely be Saturday instead of Friday since I have my final roadtrip for the year this week.

 

[Rodja]

12/6

Incline BP
185x5
205x3
225x2
235x2

Lat Pulldowns
200x10x4

Dips
BW+45x10x3

Tate Press/HS Preacher Curl (uni)
35x10/55x10
40x10/55x10
45x10/55x10

Pressdowns/Band Facepulls (light)
90x15x3/15x3

I'm on the road right now and had to get in a quick session at a Gold's in lovely San Angelo, TX. It wasn't too awful, but I've already been spoiled by the TX Power Bars.

One thing that I need to address is my impingement in my right delt. It's getting cranky and this cold snap we're having isn't helping.

 

[Sean1332]

12/6 Incline BP 185x5 205x3 225x2 235x2 Lat Pulldowns 200x10x4 Dips BW+45x10x3 Tate Press/HS Preacher Curl (uni) 35x10/55x10 40x10/55x10 45x10/55x10 Pressdowns/Band Facepulls (light) 90x15x3/15x3 I'm on the road right now and had to get in a quick session at a Gold's in lovely San Angelo, TX. It wasn't too awful, but I've already been spoiled by the TX Power Bars. One thing that I need to address is my impingement in my right delt. It's getting cranky and this cold snap we're having isn't helping.

Lemme know how you fix your impingment.

Strong inclines btw

 

[Rodja]

Lemme know how you fix your impingment. Strong inclines btw

Thanks. I need to do the Donnie reset for the joint and drive it down. I call tell that it's slightly protracted.

 

[wicked442]

Hey what happened to your little girlfriend? Did she split for good this time?

 

[Rodja]

She's on one of her exodus that she takes every now and then. She'll be back eventually.

 

[wicked442]

Whatever gives her peace and clarity.

 

[Rodja]

Here was the highlight of my weekend. No injuries to me and just a little stiff.

 

[Sean1332]

<img src="http://anabolicminds.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=93557"/> Here was the highlight of my weekend. No injuries to me and just a little stiff.

Sucks dude. Glad you're okay.

 

[Rodja]

I also left my Rumbe Roller and my Beastie in a fcking hotel this week!!

 

[Sean1332]

I also left my Rumbe Roller and my Beastie in a fcking hotel this week!!

Duuuuude that fûcking blows. Will they mail them?

How is the beastie, BTW?

 

[Rodja]

That thing is freaking awesome. I was able to really hit a tiny strip in my glutes that has been tight as hell an it alleviated it. I'll just have to get a new one of each.

 

[Sean1332]

That thing is freaking awesome. I was able to really hit a tiny strip in my glutes that has been tight as hell an it alleviated it. I'll just have to get a new one of each.

Do you need the base for it? I don't imagine you would