VolcomX311
Legend
You and Scott still terrorizing the unassuming towns people?
A Squatter's Rites
- Thread starter Resolve
- Start date
Irish Cannon
Legend
Not as of Tuesday; back in Detroit now. :lol:
Had a great time! It's back to my comfy corner with books and video games. More terrorizing with Resolve and BW to come.
Resolve
The BPS Rep
Not as of Tuesday; back in Detroit now. :lol:
Had a great time! It's back to my comfy corner with books and video games. More terrorizing with Resolve and BW to come.
Yeah, it was a good time. I didn't have the flexibility in my schedule, or finances, that would've allowed us to really go hit some of the tourist traps, but Scott got the "Grad-Student of Dallas" Experience.
It was great having another guy who knew what he was doing to lift with.
VolcomX311
Legend
Not as of Tuesday; back in Detroit now. :lol:
Had a great time! It's back to my comfy corner with books and video games. More terrorizing with Resolve and BW to come.
What genre of games are you into Scott?
VolcomX311
Legend
I hear ya. That's my personal biggest concern with inviting cousines to stay with us for any duration of time. My wife and I both work full time and we're not exactly douple dipping in the Rockafellar Estate.
On a fun note, my wife and I just made our first, "couple's friends." My old roommate's wife gets a long with my wife, cause they're both private school teachers and obviously I get along with my old roommate. We got back in touch from a Bible Study group then started kicking it, so thats cool. It took exactly one year of marriage to make our first "couples friends." However, even that, we're able to afford spaghetti dinners and what not... a bit classier then Mac & Cheese I guess :lol:
MrKleen73
Legend
Awesome man that is great! I can't imagine us not having our couples friends. As a matter of fact our our couple are now part of the family. She is her best friend and he is mine. We go out together all the time hang out at Holidays even pick each others kids up from daycare. Pretty awesome indeed.
VolcomX311
Legend
Oh sweet That sounds pretty ideal. Now if David (my old roommate) were to also become my workout partner, then it'd be over. I bond with my workout partners big time, but he doesn't. He's a BJJ guy, so he's into the "only BW exercises" ish.
Irish Cannon
Legend
Worked out perfect for me! Relaxation is what it's all about.
RPG-Shooter (Borderlands)
Action (Uncharted, God of War)
FPS (Battlefield 1943)
Those, mainly.
- PS3 gamertag "IrishCannon87"
VolcomX311
Legend
Worked out perfect for me! Relaxation is what it's all about.
RPG-Shooter (Borderlands)
Action (Uncharted, God of War)
FPS (Battlefield 1943)
Those, mainly.
Borderlands was sick for sure! Especially when you've got friends to do missions with. I beat that game with the Berzerker and the Soldier and I actually found the solider more effective.
I don't know what genre "Assassins Creed" falls into, but I'm really looking forward to part 3.
I'm into open worlds, like GTA, but not GTA. I don't like that particular game, but Mafia II, The Godfather and RPG's in general. Anyway, back to Resolve's log of sorts.
Resolve
The BPS Rep
I like it that you guys have kept the thread alive while I've been MIA. Thanks. Life has been very busy right now, so online shenanigans have been minimized.
Man, I kind of feel like us AM veterans are becoming a rare breed. It was a shame to see so many of you leave LG. I can totally understand why from conversations I've had, but it's very demonstrative that times are a changin'.
I've decided a couple of things:
Focusing on grip and speed-pulls for DL. My sticking point is the floor - if I can get if off the ground I can lock it out. This suggests my quads and core are the weak link. Since I've been using Sumo stance, my accessories will be changed to Wide Stance Front or Zercher Squats and arched back good mornings, along with speed pulls/high pulls.
My squat is progressing nicely. This past Monday I hit 405x2 with perfect form, an improvement over the sloppy double I hit while Scott was lifting with me.
My shoulder is feeling better too and I've started benching again, though with some alterations to my setup. Watching Scott bench, I realized that my long legs are a big caveat to my form. So, I've begun setting up in the power cage with a taller bench. I don't plan to compete any time soon, so I'm accomodating the equipment to best suit my body. Hit a modest 355 yesterday and decided to not overtax a still healing shoulder. 355 was easy, though, so I'm sure I'll be back to 400+ in no time.
Life has been very busy right now, so online shenanigans have been minimized. Man, I kind of feel like us AM veterans are becoming a rare breed. It was a shame to see so many of you leave LG. I can totally understand why from conversations I've had, but it's very demonstrative that times are a changin'.
I've decided a couple of things:
Focusing on grip and speed-pulls for DL. My sticking point is the floor - if I can get if off the ground I can lock it out. This suggests my quads and core are the weak link. Since I've been using Sumo stance, my accessories will be changed to Wide Stance Front or Zercher Squats and arched back good mornings, along with speed pulls/high pulls.
My squat is progressing nicely. This past Monday I hit 405x2 with perfect form, an improvement over the sloppy double I hit while Scott was lifting with me.
My shoulder is feeling better too and I've started benching again, though with some alterations to my setup. Watching Scott bench, I realized that my long legs are a big caveat to my form. So, I've begun setting up in the power cage with a taller bench. I don't plan to compete any time soon, so I'm accomodating the equipment to best suit my body. Hit a modest 355 yesterday and decided to not overtax a still healing shoulder. 355 was easy, though, so I'm sure I'll be back to 400+ in no time.
VolcomX311
Legend
I wished I were born with bigger hands for greater grip. I've got a pretty mean grip with my dainty hands. I can raw grip 475, but still, I don't exactly have the hands of a country boy farmer.
Irish Cannon
Legend
Just got a secondary membership today for $10/mth with no contract at the Powerhouse down the road! This will be great for snowy weather. Now I can train at the PL gym 2x/wk, and Powerhouse 2x/wk.
Resolve
The BPS Rep
I've got huge gorilla hands and my grip still needs work. Timed holds at the end of my workout will hopefully help with that.
I do wide-stance squats, pull-throughs and sumo-stance db squats, so my abductors seem ok. Wouldn't hurt to give the machine a try, though.
I went with high pulls today, worked my way up to 315 for a single (I prefer singles or doubles for any explosive lift), followed by some light speed pulls with 365 and 405.
Then did Wide Front squats from pins at the bottom. With the bar resting on the pins, I'd lower myself under the bar and start the lift from the bottom - emulating a DL. Set my stance, brace and explode up. Reset my stand after each rep. Worked up to 225 - it's freaking hard like this!
Good mornings and rack pulls/timed overhand holds finished off the day. I'm going to rotate this workout in every other week, alternating with my heavy squat day.
That means my routine now looks like:
Day 1 - Alternating Squat/DL (additional arm work too if I feel it)
Day 2 - Bench and back
Day 4 - Leg Hypertrophy/GPP
Day 5 - Arms
Day 6 - Military, bench accessory and back
To keep everything on the same page for 5/3/1 timing, I'm considering adding in alternate bench and MP days too. That way, I'd spend 2 weeks at any given rep range with different movements. Not certain this is what I'll do yet, but I'm considering it.
Irish Cannon
Legend
That's an exceptional routine right there, bro! I applaud you for how you keep up with all of that on top of school. That was always difficult for me, and I did it, but I wasn't going for a doctorate either.
Resolve
The BPS Rep
Thanks man. I wish I could have done heavy pressing while you were out here - your setup is so tight, I could have benefited from some pointers I'm sure.
I make lifting a priority, planning my schedule around it and my classes a week ahead of time usually.
VolcomX311
Legend
Hang cleans are great for grip as hell. Firstly, you emphasize the strength of your forearm extensors with the motion of the lift, secondly, due to the high velocity change of the movement, you really put your grip through pulses of hyper-tightening of the grip. Not to mention your stressing the grip from various ranges of motions due to inherent ROM of the lift.
thundergod
Well-known member
Lovin' all this hardcore lifting verbatim. Sad that I'm only "bodybuilding" now. :sad3:
I had my day in the sun with this hardcore stuff as a younger lad. Now I emphasize mobility and flexibility in my routines.
Still lifting heavy for an old guy though. :lol:
I had my day in the sun with this hardcore stuff as a younger lad. Now I emphasize mobility and flexibility in my routines.
Still lifting heavy for an old guy though. :lol:
thundergod
Well-known member
Just got a secondary membership today for $10/mth with no contract at the Powerhouse down the road! This will be great for snowy weather. Now I can train at the PL gym 2x/wk, and Powerhouse 2x/wk.
That's one of the sweetest deals I ever heard of. We used to have a Powerhouse here in my town. I had a week's free pass that I used. It was fun using all those pretty machines. And watching all those pretty girls!! Very distracting. Had I joined there I would probably have wound up hurting myself trying to impress the lovely lasses. :sgrin:
Oh.....and reps for snowy weather. I can't wait to see some!!!
Resolve
The BPS Rep
That was my logic for incorporating the high-pulls; I can handle more weight with them that clean, but I should still get some of the benefits you describe. Except that with a high pull you don't "catch" the bar.
Lifting VERY heavy for anyone man. There's a reason your workouts are synonymous with insanity on this board.
Scott's a persuasive guy, that's for sure. Never lifted in a powerhouse, though there was one back in California close to where I lived.
I hope to see some snow this winter, that would be quite nice!
VolcomX311
Legend
Irish, did you see who Mysterion turned out to be in South Park?
I did.
Resolve
The BPS Rep
It made me happy. I love the way that show can take the mundane and make them epic.
VolcomX311
Legend
I sincerely consider their comedy genius. Like any show it can be hit or miss, but overall, there's so many funny things about that show.
Irish Cannon
Legend
Irish, did you see who Mysterion turned out to be in South Park?
Oh, ya! And I watched the newest one this morning. Pretty funny stuff, but I'm ready for it to go back to current event-mocking. The Coon and Friends BP Oil Disaster thing is starting to burn me out.
Shablagoo!
...Mint Berrrry KerrrrUNCH!
Resolve
The BPS Rep
The creativity they continually display is amazing. I can't believe they've been on the air since I was like 12.
They seem to go on a tangent every so often. It's cool to have the story carry on from one episode to the next, but it's also always fun to get something new.
Cthulhu was pretty cool, but I'm an HP Lovecraft fan anyways.
Resolve
The BPS Rep
Let's see, what have I done lately?
- Push-pressed 205 for 7 last Friday
- Destroyed my legs on Saturday with a bunch of lunges, split-squats, step-ups and pull-throughs.
- Hit up some wide-grip decline presses and weighted pull-ups yesterday, reaching 275x8 easily on the presses.
These are just highlights, but they're the important stuff from the sessions. Everything else is just accessory; still important, but not as essential.
- Push-pressed 205 for 7 last Friday
- Destroyed my legs on Saturday with a bunch of lunges, split-squats, step-ups and pull-throughs.
- Hit up some wide-grip decline presses and weighted pull-ups yesterday, reaching 275x8 easily on the presses.
These are just highlights, but they're the important stuff from the sessions. Everything else is just accessory; still important, but not as essential.
thundergod
Well-known member
Important and also very impressive. I'm especially impressed with those push-presses. That's heavy stuff there brother!!:clap2:
Do you dip with your knees and arch your back slightly on those?
Like Louie Ferrigno when he was shouting, "Arnold, Arnold, Arnold" on each rep?
Irish Cannon
Legend
Since none of those count as a rep, I sure hope not. 
...but yes, I sure as hell yell "ahnold!"
...but yes, I sure as hell yell "ahnold!"
Resolve
The BPS Rep
Lou is one of my favorite BB'ers. The speech impediment and his height mean I can relate so much to him (I had a pretty pronounced stammer as a kid, still comes out when I get excited). That was a good clean to get that weight up there, and I love his partner, "I want 10!"
Yep, I "pop" the bar off my clavicles with a bit of leg power, beginning with a good arch in my back. As bar proceeds overhead, I rotate my torso forward and shoulders back, so the bar ends in what looks like a Clean and Jerk Lockout.
Since none of those count as a rep, I sure hope not.
...but yes, I sure as hell yell "ahnold!"
Seriously; watching that video makes me feel really good about locking out 275. If those count as push-presses, 300+ for multiples here I come!:lol:
Anyone ever tried a split stance for OHP? I might mess around with that a bit this week, since it's supposed be deloading. Looks to give a better back-arch and might be easier on my knees. Believe it or not, push-presses are easily to hardest movement on those suckers, because of how the weight is racked on my shoulders.
I've got squats coming up this afternoon, I may deload, I may jump right into 5+ reps since last week felt light for the most part.
VolcomX311
Legend
I've only ever tried the split stance from Oly snatches and it bothered the knee I kicked back, BIG TIME. I haven't done the split stance since I got knee wraps.
Resolve
The BPS Rep
Good to know, I'll keep that in mind. Thanks :squareeyed:
VolcomX311
Legend
Granted, I wasn't kicking directly behind me, but more so out to the side, on the left; stability issue.
thundergod
Well-known member
I've experimented with the split stance in the past and never felt comfortable with it. I think our height (6'4') may be a factor here Resolve.
Resolve
The BPS Rep
Undoubtedly our height is an issue. Thanks for the input - it's good to hear from another tall man. :lol:
thundergod
Well-known member
Hey fellow tall man and brother eternal.
I can't help but tell somebody. I'm so stoked. This morning on Low Incline DB Bench Presses I got the 140's for 10 reps and 150's for 7 reps!!! Best performance ever!!!!
I'm bustin' I tell ya.....bustin'. :woohoo:
VolcomX311
Legend
Geeze, good job TG! I don't even know what 140 & 150 Db's feel like :sad3:
thundergod
Well-known member
Yeah right. Go ahead and be modest if you want to. I brag enough for the both of us!! :lol:
thundergod
Well-known member
Tis nothing brother AZ. It must be those collard greens and grits. Naw.....I can't lie. I don't eat that crap. :sgrin:
VolcomX311
Legend
I always see Shrimp & Grits on the Food Network Channel and I really want to try that :food: Not a fan of collard greens, but I like every other Southern cuisine. Fried catfish, baked egg Mac & Cheese, red velvet cake. My friend DJ is from the south and his mom is a fantastic cook.
Resolve
The BPS Rep
Whew, that's a lotta weight sir. Well done! DBs in my gym only go to 125, for anything heavier I gotta use cables or bb.
Speaking of which:
Yesterday was squat day. I decided I didn't want to deload, so I worked up to 7reps with 355, which is easily a PR for reps. My form was solid until the 7th rep too, whereupon my chest started to fall forward, so I called the set before things got any sloppier. My leg strength has been progressing quite well recently.
If only my bench were the same. Today I worked my way up to several triples with 315. Explosivity really feels like the limiting factor here, I just grinding each rep out slowly and I don't like it. Of course weakness is to be expected in recovering from an injury. I think dead-stop pin presses are in my near future to help with this.
Also, BW gave me an early Christmas Gift last night; a box of goodies from EFS! She got me another monster mini band, so I now have a pair, as well as a T-shirt and some Elbow Sleeves. The sleeves are XXXL and still plenty tight; if that's not a self-esteem boost, I don't know what is! They also tossed in a keychain for free, so my keys are riding in style now.
I've agreed to write some weekly reviews for APS' Mesomorph, which should arrive in the next week or so. I'll post on that in here and in a separate thread, to be set up later. I've had my eye on that and the new Protocol, so it'll be cool to try one of those two out.
VolcomX311
Legend
Someone sent me a PM about logging Mesomorph a couple weeks back, but I accidently deleted his PM when I was cleaning house and I forgot his name. I wanted to do it too :sad3:
Nice work with the squats. I've tried concetric squats before (or dead stop pin) but for overhead squats.
Resolve
The BPS Rep
Probably Judgement Day. He may still be interested in you logging it if you PM him.
I was thinking of pin-presses, though I did use "concentric" front squats last week for DL assistance. I also use to do concentric 1/2 squats as warmup for full squats, but found that they had a tendency to compromise my form.
VolcomX311
Legend
Thanks. I PM'd him to at least acknowledge his PM and to thank him for the consideration. He sent me the PM maybe two weeks ago, so I'm sure the applicants have been selected, which is all good, that was my bad.
Resolve
The BPS Rep
I saw that, thanks. It's on my list of supps to purchase as I can afford them. With the size of both mine and BW's families, all our money is going to Christmas presents right now. But that's a very good thing - we both really enjoy this time of year.
On an entirely unrelated note, I have serious manlove for Marvin Eder and George Eiferman. I don't care if they're dead or geriatric.