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To Infinity.... and Beyond!

Yeah that was a killer session. Just finished four full weeks of my Epiandro run and I think between that and the extra banded work I'm starting to see some progress again. I grabbed that 185 for a single on my warm up progression but it flew so I knocked out 5 and knew it was gonna be a killer day.
 
Dustin07 said:
Yeah that was a killer session. Just finished four full weeks of my Epiandro run and I think between that and the extra banded work I'm starting to see some progress again. I grabbed that 185 for a single on my warm up progression but it flew so I knocked out 5 and knew it was gonna be a killer day.
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That did look like a solid session. I can’t get the slingshot out of my mind! Haha and now rack pulls. I was also planning on an epiandro run as well from Oct-Dec to try to hit my goals.
 
kjscatch said:
That did look like a solid session. I can’t get the slingshot out of my mind! Haha and now rack pulls. I was also planning on an epiandro run as well from Oct-Dec to try to hit my goals.
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what's the reasoning for pushing out till fall? Bulking season?
 
Hyde said:
Nice work! Glad it’s clicking for you again.
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thanks man, things are definitely feeling better and 300 is feeling within striking distance again.
I figured I'd run this epi until about May 15th which would be 6 weeks (and coincidentally my wedding anniversary). I think my TD ultra epi will last about that long and I'm stacking it with epiandrolean caps (usually 2 a day) so I'm getting heavily dosed. I would love to run it much longer but in the past few days started noticing the hair shedding again which is always my key side unfortunately.
 
Dustin07 said:
Bench
20 x bar
10 x 95
5 x 135, 185
1 x 225, 250, 270, 290

Slingshot
1 x 305, 315
6 x 275 (reps PR)

Raw
8 x 225

Tricep cable push downs
3 sets

Machine dips
3 sets

Pec deck
3 sets

Machine Incline press
5 sets

Battle ropes
7 x 20 sec on, 40 sec off

LISS (Duolingo time)
25 min


Notes
Sunday bro sesh with my boy. First 290/315 since January I think and both felt awesome. Had 320 in the tank easy but wanted to end strong.

I think maybe 225 x 10 too but I went straight from the 275 x 6 into raw without break.
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Nice rep pr
How’s the kiddo after deads the other day?
 
SkRaw85 said:
Nice rep pr
How’s the kiddo after deads the other day?
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his only soreness complaint the next day was biceps from the 2 x 20 db curl sets he ran lol.
I was super setting 3x db curls with 3x ez bar... couldn't muster enough motivation in him for that. He said since his sets were 20 reps he had done just as many 😅
 
Mine will be the 18th! It’s coming up fast.

Dustin07 said:
But he did agree that the deadlift is king, so I think his interest is piqued.
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It really is a great show of overall body strength. Yes there are those with particularly advantaged leverages certainly, but it is a good test for the average guy and especially the shorter-armed! If you have someone with a stout bench or press also making strong pulls, you really have a strong person. This is why push-pull total is such a good metric of overall might.

Squatting is an awesome developmental movement, but it is more technical. It is my favorite lift to PR & it will build more stones than almost anything, so I love it & powerlifting (as in, the 3-lift total as a competitive endeavor). But just adding up your current bench & deadlift is a great indicator of practical gym strength.
 
Power cleans
5 x 95, 135, 165, 185
3 x 205, 225

Wanted 235 but form was going

Deficit deads 2"
3 x 225, 275, 315, 365, 385

RDLs
5 x 315
5 x 225

+ Green band
EMOTM
6 x 5 x 225

Front squats
EMOTM
5 x 95, 115, 135, 155
10 x 95

Rear delt swings
3 sets

Superset with EZ bar curls
3 sets

Leg ext
3 sets

Battle ropes
15 sec on 15 sec off
8 rounds

That's a rough 4 minutes


Notes
Was feeling good today!!
Those RDLs at 315 did throw me off though. I thought for sure that would be 8 raw and sets with bands but it was much heavier than I expected after the earlier work


Something about high rep 225lb deads just grows the chest hair and makes your dick hard.

I am absolutely drenched in sweat.
My golf coach ain't gonna be happy about this tonight, lolInvalid Link Removed
 
Hyde said:
Mine will be the 18th! It’s coming up fast.
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congrats man, I hope it's a really great and meaningful day for you. as I get older and more grateful for life, I find my marriage is more and more important to me. I had a conversation with myself while driving the other day and I was asking me what I do for fun, what my hobbies are. I responded; "My wife, lifting, golf, and travel".

Hyde said:
Squatting is an awesome developmental movement, but it is more technical. It is my favorite lift to PR & it will build more stones than almost anything, so I love it & powerlifting (as in, the 3-lift total as a competitive endeavor). But just adding up your current bench & deadlift is a great indicator of practical gym strength.
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Agreed on all accounts.
I'm grateful my desire to squat is actually starting come back lately. I'm loving bringing cleans back because the sense of explosive power is great, but my 14yr old is about 1" shorter than me and I swear to God his legs are 50% thicker. Ever leg press set I did, he did, and he would usually double my reps. I force him to slow down and I track his knees and watch him carefully because I'm concerned with his strength he could easily fuk himself up simply because he doesn't know how his mechanics are supposed to work. He is taking weight lifting next year (sophomore year high school). If he takes to squats and dead lifts I have no doubt he could chase his high schools squat records (same school my mom and I went to, she had swimming records that lasted until after I graduated. My records were far less prestigious. )
 
SkRaw85 said:
wobbly noodle after that session. Good luck on the greens!
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for real. luckily it's just a range day, but the last one of this 5 session package my wife got me for Christmas and then my next session with him will be playing a 9 hole game with him. It's wild watching a legit PGA pro tee off beside you. absolutely insanely creative and aggressive shots from anywhere. most of us are trying to make bogie or better and his only thought every hole is BIRDIE BIRDIE BIRDIE lol.

it really takes the game from a bunch of fat dudes on saturday, to a legit competitive sport
 
Dustin07 said:
what's the reasoning for pushing out till fall? Bulking season?
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my plan is to drop my weight first. Try to keep as much strength as possible. Then bulk up and hopefully regain the strength back. Highly doubt I will reach my all my goals but it is giving me something to reach for. Goals before turning 40: Goal 1: Weigh 199lbs Goal 2: Deadlift 500. Goal 3: Start and finish my masters.

Just been a slow drop in weight to build my strength back up to decent numbers. Last year I got down to 216 at this time. Back up to 240. I hate feeling weak so I always quit the diet. It’s been a viscous life cycle haha
 
kjscatch said:
my plan is to drop my weight first. Try to keep as much strength as possible. Then bulk up and hopefully regain the strength back. Highly doubt I will reach my all my goals but it is giving me something to reach for. Goals before turning 40: Goal 1: Weigh 199lbs Goal 2: Deadlift 500. Goal 3: Start and finish my masters.

Just been a slow drop in weight to build my strength back up to decent numbers. Last year I got down to 216 at this time. Back up to 240. I hate feeling weak so I always quit the diet. It’s been a viscous life cycle haha
Click to expand...
I am with you! Drop some weight and look a little better and I get more focused on the cut, as soon as I drop strength, I panic and wanna pull the plug on cutting.
 
Dustin07 said:
Power cleans
5 x 95, 135, 165, 185
3 x 205, 225

Wanted 235 but form was going

Deficit deads 2"
3 x 225, 275, 315, 365, 385

RDLs
5 x 315
5 x 225

+ Green band
EMOTM
6 x 5 x 225

Front squats
EMOTM
5 x 95, 115, 135, 155
10 x 95

Rear delt swings
3 sets

Superset with EZ bar curls
3 sets

Leg ext
3 sets

Battle ropes
15 sec on 15 sec off
8 rounds

That's a rough 4 minutes


Notes
Was feeling good today!!
Those RDLs at 315 did throw me off though. I thought for sure that would be 8 raw and sets with bands but it was much heavier than I expected after the earlier work


Something about high rep 225lb deads just grows the chest hair and makes your dick hard.
Click to expand...

RDL at 315 dang that’s nuts.

I agree about high rep deadlifts. You just feel tougher afterwards. I think it was an article from Tnation but I did Deadlifted EMOTM for 30 minutes at 275x1. It wasn’t super hard at the time but it dragged on and got heavy. May have to go back and try to find the article and do it again.

Think deficit deadlifts help a lot? I need to supplement my deadlift with something to help increase it. All I do now is deadlift once a week.

Battle ropes are fun for a change of pace but I always read where they destroy your shoulders so I don’t do them very often.
 
kjscatch said:
RDL at 315 dang that’s nuts.

I agree about high rep deadlifts. You just feel tougher afterwards. I think it was an article from Tnation but I did Deadlifted EMOTM for 30 minutes at 275x1. It wasn’t super hard at the time but it dragged on and got heavy. May have to go back and try to find the article and do it again.

Think deficit deadlifts help a lot? I need to supplement my deadlift with something to help increase it. All I do now is deadlift once a week.

Battle ropes are fun for a change of pace but I always read where they destroy your shoulders so I don’t do them very often.
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I could definitely see a potential for shoulder risk there. Right now I'm craving some HIIT wod style stuff and they fit in easy without throwing barbells all over..

The deficits are hard work for me. They really challenge my ROM but they yield rewards, for me... Same with banded bench. I don't necessarily love either, but they really seem to have substantial carryover and when I use these lifts I see my conventional numbers go up.

I think rack pulls and slingshot do as well, for me. Knowing I have held a 500lb rack pull helps me substantially mentally with ground pulls.
 
Dustin07 said:
congrats man, I hope it's a really great and meaningful day for you. as I get older and more grateful for life, I find my marriage is more and more important to me. I had a conversation with myself while driving the other day and I was asking me what I do for fun, what my hobbies are. I responded; "My wife, lifting, golf, and travel".
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man this is so true. These last 4 years I have really come a long ways in life. I have a very good marriage, I have become a father, about to be a father of 2. My life focus now is family and I wouldn’t trade that for a single thing.
 
dapack said:
Bench is looking solid. 3 plates is coming!!
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that would be awesome. It would be even better if I could do it sub 200lbs. I'm back to 197 at the moment which is crazy cause I don't "feel" like I'm eating in surplus, although I have not been tracking.

BennyMagoo79 said:
Jeez your cleans are solid man
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thanks homie. 225 always feels like that launching/plateau point. my PR clean + jerk is 270 and I know that was a grind of a process to get there. I just like having that explosive ROM in my pocket, makes me feel a little more well rounded.
 
Been dragging my butt lately. last night got one of those muscle spasms that runs from around the right lat from spine to right peck, up the shoulder. I get them from time to time when training hard and definitely prefer it on my right side over my left so I don't feel like I'm having a hard attack lol. but that one was hard enough to ask my wife to rub it out. she said she could feel the lats spasming, lol. So I pressed on my right pec where it hurt and sure enough I could feel it too.

Super glad today is a DE day, bands are on the menu. I'll still push it hard but I know I won't miss reps on my banded work.
Still running ultra epi + epiandrolean stacked. I feel like the results from so much epi are awesome in the gym, but leads to more intense recovery as well.
 
Bench
10 x bar, 95, 135
5 x 185
1 x 225, 245, 265, 280, 290

Slingshot
1 x 305, 315

Raw + red bands
5 x 135

EMOTM
10 x 3 x 155
(Last set was 5 x 185)

EZ bar skull crushers
15 x 60, 70, 70, 50

Machine dips
- rear seated -
3 sets

Superset with rear delt swings
3 sets

Weight 196

Felt like crap going in, then it turned on and I didn't want to leave!





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Man I feel worked now. Deviations from the plan:

considered a 3 x 5 at 225 paused, but felt like going heavy and testing.
Wanted more reps with slingshot, but crunched for time.
Would have liked to get more accessory work, at least one more chest item like press, incline, pec deck etc but... time.
we used red bands today because the 135lb plate made it too heavy with green bands for my training partner, so we threw 10s on for my sets outside the bands, stripped them off for his sets.

all in all, good session though. felt like a monster. somehow, i do feel like I'm leaning out. the gym mirror says my abs are cracka'lackin big time, the mirror at home says I could stunt double for the pillsbury dough boy.
 
Dustin07 said:
Man I feel worked now. Deviations from the plan:

considered a 3 x 5 at 225 paused, but felt like going heavy and testing.
Wanted more reps with slingshot, but crunched for time.
Would have liked to get more accessory work, at least one more chest item like press, incline, pec deck etc but... time.
we used red bands today because the 135lb plate made it too heavy with green bands for my training partner, so we threw 10s on for my sets outside the bands, stripped them off for his sets.

all in all, good session though. felt like a monster. somehow, i do feel like I'm leaning out. the gym mirror says my abs are cracka'lackin big time, the mirror at home says I could stunt double for the pillsbury dough boy.
Click to expand...

love hate relationships with mirrors
 
Dustin07 said:
Man I feel worked now. Deviations from the plan:

considered a 3 x 5 at 225 paused, but felt like going heavy and testing.
Wanted more reps with slingshot, but crunched for time.
Would have liked to get more accessory work, at least one more chest item like press, incline, pec deck etc but... time.
we used red bands today because the 135lb plate made it too heavy with green bands for my training partner, so we threw 10s on for my sets outside the bands, stripped them off for his sets.

all in all, good session though. felt like a monster. somehow, i do feel like I'm leaning out. the gym mirror says my abs are cracka'lackin big time, the mirror at home says I could stunt double for the pillsbury dough boy.
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Body and strength dysmorphia, all of us think we are fat/weak
 
SkRaw85 said:
Body and strength dysmorphia, all of us think we are fat/weak
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haha it's true. and it always seems to get a bit harder to impress the woman each year after the ring goes on but she did send me this the other day 😂😂

must be doing something right lol

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OH Press
20 x bar
10 x 65 (BTN)
5 x 95, 115, 135
6 x 150

Barbell row
10 x 135, 155
5 x 175, 185, 195
20 x 95 (snatch grip)

Pull ups
10

EZ bar curls
3 sets

Superset with lat pull downs
3 sets

DB hammer curls
3 sets

Superset with kroc rows
3 sets, light weight

Seated DB curls
3 sets

Superset with DB lateral raises
2 sets

Yesterday's sore throat turned into a fullblown head cold. Pure misery out of bed this morning. Rocked a bro sesh to keep it easy on the system. Wanted 3 sets of pull-ups but my buddy had already moved to lat pull-downs and we had a super set regiment planned out so wanted to keep moving to keep the overall session around an hour or shorter if possible.

if you drew a line down the middle of my face, forehead through nose, down to chin and neck, everything to the left feels plugged up and sold like. but everything on the right side is feeling good so my glass is half full 😂

Definitely a bit on the under the weather side, thinking I should be good by this weekend though.

Weight
195
 
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Had an awesome session with my coach last night, it was 9 holes of actual golf with his coaching along the way. Night and day difference in my improvements, driving greens, etc. it's just like any other sport, when you work side by side with a pro the practice becomes so much better and meaningful.

I could tell my voice was going but I felt pretty good!

Woke up this morning feeling 10x worse than COVID tbh. Really wanted a legs day, especially since it's weekend and I can spend as much time at the gym as I want but wife is pressuring me pretty hardcore to just rest today.
 
Dustin07 said:
Had an awesome session with my coach last night, it was 9 holes of actual golf with his coaching along the way. Night and day difference in my improvements, driving greens, etc. it's just like any other sport, when you work side by side with a pro the practice becomes so much better and meaningful.

I could tell my voice was going but I felt pretty good!

Woke up this morning feeling 10x worse than COVID tbh. Really wanted a legs day, especially since it's weekend and I can spend as much time at the gym as I want but wife is pressuring me pretty hardcore to just rest today.
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Your wife is right. Your body is devoting all its resources to fighting this off for the moment. Just give it a few days of dedicated rest.

Maybe ask to play with her new boobs while you’re relaxing - bound to help you feel better!
 
Hyde said:
Your wife is right. Your body is devoting all its resources to fighting this off for the moment. Just give it a few days of dedicated rest.

Maybe ask to play with her new boobs while you’re relaxing - bound to help you feel better!
Click to expand...
 
Dustin07 said:
Had an awesome session with my coach last night, it was 9 holes of actual golf with his coaching along the way. Night and day difference in my improvements, driving greens, etc. it's just like any other sport, when you work side by side with a pro the practice becomes so much better and meaningful.

I could tell my voice was going but I felt pretty good!

Woke up this morning feeling 10x worse than COVID tbh. Really wanted a legs day, especially since it's weekend and I can spend as much time at the gym as I want but wife is pressuring me pretty hardcore to just rest today.
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Hope you took your wife’s advice and feel better soon mate!
 
BennyMagoo79 said:
Hope you took your wife’s advice and feel better soon mate!
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I took more than advice from her and slept like a baby . Woke up feeling hell of a lot better. Still fairly shitty but I'm gonna make a run at it anyways and see what the body is up for. What I want is a total destruction legs day.

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The wait-for-rack-warmup

Front rack double DB squats
10 x 30s, 35s, 40s

DB RDLs
10 x 50s, 60s, 65s

Seated incline DB curls
3 x 10-12

Twenty sets starts....now...

Squats
10 x 135, 185
5 x 225, 245
10 x 185

+ Redbands
EMOTM
10 x 5 x 135

Front squats
3 x 8 x 95

Leg press
2 sets




Weight 200
I'm the type who gains weight while sick apparently

I was playing around with band setup, this want a ton of extra tension but enough to feel it for an out of practice dude like me.

That EMOTM was stupid. No idea how I summoned the energy for that. I'll regret it for days.


That tore me up, exactly what I was looking for.
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Dustin07 said:
The wait-for-rack-warmup

Front rack double DB squats
10 x 30s, 35s, 40s

DB RDLs
10 x 50s, 60s, 65s

Seated incline DB curls
3 x 10-12

Twenty sets starts....now...

Squats
10 x 135, 185
5 x 225, 245
10 x 185

+ Redbands
EMOTM
10 x 5 x 135

Front squats
3 x 8 x 95

Leg press
2 sets




Weight 200
I'm the type who gains weight while sick apparently

I was playing around with band setup, this want a ton of extra tension but enough to feel it for an out of practice dude like me.

That EMOTM was stupid. No idea how I summoned the energy for that. I'll regret it for days.


That tore me up, exactly what I was looking for.
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Click to expand...
Some damn good work and volume not to mention being under the weather 😂 crazy man !
 
Dustin07 said:
all in all, good session though. felt like a monster. somehow, i do feel like I'm leaning out. the gym mirror says my abs are cracka'lackin big time, the mirror at home says I could stunt double for the pillsbury dough boy.
Click to expand...
Dude, that’s exactly what I’m saying about mirrors. I have no idea what I actually look like. Then, I see pictures, and half the time I’m like “ew”, but my wife says “that picture looks distorted, you don’t look like that” lol
 
Dustin07 said:
Bench
10 x bar, 95, 135
5 x 185
1 x 225, 245, 265, 280, 290

Slingshot
1 x 305, 315

Raw + red bands
5 x 135

EMOTM
10 x 3 x 155
(Last set was 5 x 185)

EZ bar skull crushers
15 x 60, 70, 70, 50

Machine dips
- rear seated -
3 sets

Superset with rear delt swings
3 sets

Weight 196

Felt like crap going in, then it turned on and I didn't want to leave!





Invalid Link Removed
Click to expand...
I think it’s time I start normal benching again. Just checking in to see my goals 😂
 
akboom87 said:
Some damn good work and volume not to mention being under the weather 😂 crazy man !
Click to expand...

as I got started with the 10x5, I thought
a. is this too light
b. why am I doing 5s when I do 10x3 on bench day
c. I can always adjust at set 6 and split it, 5x5 and 5x3

But around sets like 3-6 I was FLYING. fastest squats I think I've ever had. I've always been a very slower mover through the squat so it felt like a great session to build some speed there. However, I started getting a pretty massive leg pump and the last few sets were a grind just to get the legs to move lol

I think pump addict is the greatest preWO I've used in a long time. I have some other stuff I use occasionally and for some reason every time I use Pump Addict I have a way better session. more focus and aggression.

GreenMachineX said:
Dude, that’s exactly what I’m saying about mirrors. I have no idea what I actually look like. Then, I see pictures, and half the time I’m like “ew”, but my wife says “that picture looks distorted, you don’t look like that” lol
Click to expand...

reminds me of this commercial that keeps popping up lol

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Bench
2 x 15 x 95
5 x 135, 175, 205
1 x 224, 245, 265, 280, 295

Slingshot
1 x 315, 315, 315
5 x 285 (reps PR)

Raw
10 x 225
12 x 185
15 x 135

EZ bar lying Skull crushers
3 x 15

Rear delt swings
3 x 10+

Pec deck
2 sets to failure

Weight
198

I travel in 10 or 11 days. Wondering if I can smash a PR at 305 by then...
I did not think attempting 320+ was as important as repetitive heavy weight today. my second and third 315 pushes were better than my first. strength is of course always an issue, but there is a neurological practice component to handling very heavy weight that I need to work on, too.
 
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