Im still alive

I bet everyone thought db had died or finally quit.  Nope, not this crazy bastard.  Well I did try and walk away for a few months but thats not me.  I still have a ton of unfinished business on the platform.  I said in a previous blog the last two years have sucked well guess what gang, this year has been even fucking worse.  \

Just a quick synopsis of what has gone down.

January my then gf tells me she has cancer.  This fucks my head up and gets to me in my lifting.

In March I find out she is lying when she gets arrested.  This really hit me hard.  Until now I havent realized how bad this fucked my head up.  I ended things right then.

I bail her out, sorry folks even db gets sympathetic.  Next day I find her half dead from a suicide attempt.  Well then after she gets carted off I find the note, made out to me.

Here is where things get better and worse all at the same time.  I meet a girl the same night.  I fall hard for her because we had a great talk for about 8 hours.  We cant quit talking to each other and agree to date.  Well the ex cleans out my bank account during all this.  I probably did something to warrant this in the previous cosmos.

Im still lifting but my head is fucked up.  I decide in April to hell with it Ill take some time off.  Then in the meantime I have a financial collapse.  I just lost it.  No matter what happened I couldnt get ahead.  I borrowed money to get out of the hole but it put me back in the hole.  I wasnt supplementing while all this was going on so I had some major issues there.  The term Brain Tumor was thrown around allot and the thought of a snack of hot lead kept popping into my head.  Add into it getting hurt moving piddly ass furniture and having surgery.  Yay fuck me.  In the meantime a very awesome individual had mercy on me and basically wrote me a check that kept me from just falling on my face.  Im still broke but I have a chance.  Through all this something was missing though.  I just needed more in my life.

In the meantime because my house freaked me the fuck out I gave it up.  I gave away my dogs because I couldnt take them with me.  Its just been a giant cluster fuck.  I had to sell my monolift to make it through July, I really wish I couldve held on to that thing.  I basically have lost everything this year.  Here I am now and I dont know where Im at in life I just know Im not me.  I finally decided that I would get back to lifting.

So far being back in the gym has been a huge help but Im weak as shit.  I miss how strong I was a year ago.  I looked at my old logs and I was blown away to think of where I was and how I fell from that point.  Now I sit at work fascinated at how mysterious life is.  A year ago shit was rough but damn I would love to be that sound financially again but Im also happy with the people in my life currently.  The one thing though is not being the bad ass crazy bastard I used to be is eating away at me.  I miss it.  Its like a part of me has died.

My plans going forward are to train and just see where life takes me.  I have a showdown with cpap brewing.  I called him out more so for motivation then anything.  Until next time I hope I dont croke.

Been a while since Ive updated here.  I will get back to posting regularly my training and more on some random thoughts about lifting and life in general.  Ill update after tonight's bench workout.

Bench Night

I feel pretty good and anxious to do a meet so I told myself if I have a productive night in the shirt Im going to Bama on the 23rd and lift.  Here is how things went down

warm ups, again working on a new start position
bar*5*3
135*3*3
245*2
335*1
all of these felt great.  Felt like my stroke was short
425*1> this not so much.  We had the bar out then I took it out farther and touched high and it was ugly but it came back up. 

Now for the fun stuff, the shirt.  I had lost all confedence after bombing in the pro am and the bench meet because of fucking up my shirt groove. 

I called for 515.  I told the guys no boards.  They said okay just get it down and press it back up.  Nope Im touching
515*1> touch
605*1> touch
both of these were a little slower than I had hoped but I had to force them down to touch. 
655*1>touch and smoked.  Got down easy and up really easy. 

The meet is a go

wanted to do some close grips but 245 felt like ass and my pec and shoulder said f you and gave me the finger so I only did one set

Machine Inclines
3 sets of 20

lat pulls
3 sets

push downs
3 sets

cable curls 3 set

rope curls 3 sets

solid day. 

squat night

Skipped speed bench this week to get some rest from another long driving session judging another meet.

Cody decided he wanted to go straps down off a box with a green band.  This sounded fun so I jumped in with him since next week I want to do a heavy triple in full gear.

warm ups
bar+band*3*2
145*2*2
235*2
add briefs
325*1
415*1
505*1
add belt
595*1
685*1
 tried one set with suit bottoms but my frantz suit has a pad/spine that runs up the back and well its not a good idea to use it straps down (I made this mistake years ago and made it again)

ssb speed squat/good morning combo with bands tied to the front
bar*3 squat and 3 good mornings
1 plate *3 and 3
2plates *3 and 3

split squats
3 sets ea leg with body weight

face pulls and done

Decent night.  The ssb with bands to the front really made my glutes fire hard and I need that.  I tore a glute about 2.5 years ago and since then my raw squat has sucked and I get almost zero glute activity in my deadlift.  I can feel them starting to work more but I cant get slack.

Next week will be the hardest squat workout of my life.  Chains set a parallel for a full gear triple with something over 800.  I will need to be locked into the groove and fast all at the same time to complete the lift but if I can pull off the number I want then I know Im more than capable of uncorking a monster at a meet.  Speaking of meets I decided against the ironman due to financial concerns and my injured boob.  Now though I wish I was lifting.  Ive got an itch to do a meet. 

Signs of my deadlift coming back

Goal for today was to pull a good hard triple off a 1" plate

warm ups
135*5*3
225*2*2
315*1
add briefs
405*1
add suit bottoms
495*1
straps up and belt
585*1
work set
675*3

RDL against bands W/ squat bar
145*10
235*10
415*10

start at the top go down lightly touch pins at lower shin level and explode back up while pushing back hard in the glutes

split squats
3 sets with body weight.  Just feeling these out before I try and add weight on them

abs and done.


All in all Im pleased with today.  Next week we will pull against chains for a single.

Well Im behind again!  Was out of town to judge a meet this past weekend.  It amazes me how strong some of the younger raw lifters coming up are.  At the same time there arent near as many geared lifters as there was a few years ago at the meets.  Sadly most of the few that showed up didnt make it past the squats

Training for the week so far has been pleasing.  Being at a meet got my juices flowing again so Ive been back in "blast" as Dave Tate would call it.  Heres what Ive done so far

squats, chains set just above parallel
bar*5*3
155*2*2
265*2
355*1
465*1
555*1> all raw no belt
add breifs
645*1
add Inzer suit
785*1
take off inzer suit put on frantz and add wraps
875*1
1025*1> pr

Leg ext
3 sets

leg curls
3 sets

hypers
3 sets

did something else but forgot.  I was hoping the inzer suit would fit better but its a little big in the waist.  I will get it adjusted and give it another go.

Bench night, decided to do some reps on the incline just to do something different
bar*10*2
135*5*2
185*3
225*3
275*3
315*3
335*3
365*3
405*2
Pretty good!  Left pec is wounded but I was able to push things a bit still

incline jms
95*10*2
115*10

dbell rows
70*12ea arm
115*10 ea arm
150*10 ea arm

rope curls
5 sets

rope push downs
5 sets

cable curls
5 sets

good one!

Going to pull tonight due to judging another meet this weekend.  Im about ready for a weekend off soon, lol.

Just plain tired

I must say last night was the first time I can remember it being a squat day and me not feeling up to it.

I did some squats to chains around parallel against blue bands

warms ups
bar*3*2
145*2*2
255*2
345*2
435*2
add briefs
525*2
615*2
miss at 665, just didnt really push it

speed pulls
5 sets of 3

leg curls
3 sets

lat pulls
3 sets

Sunday when i get back from the state meet Im going to refocus and get my work in and start back kicking ass.  I just havent been hungry in the gym lately and not really going balls out like I like to, that shits over.

Bench night

Decided to do some raw pressing off a 2 foam (literally this thing lets the bar sink into your chest but takes just a hint of pressure off your shoulders) and work on a better set up and starting position.

warm ups
bar*5*3
135*3*2
225*3
add 2 foam
315*2
365*2
405*2
455*2> pr
485*miss, I couldve pressed this out but I just benched heavy a couple days ago in a meet and my left pec knotted up pretty bad.  I think if  I wouldve pushed it on out I wouldve blew my pec

dbell presses
40*25
75*25
115*5> stopped due to the pec

Triceps W/ rope
2 sets to failure

Rope curls
3 sets

rear delt flys
3 sets

All in all a good day.  Taking the bar out much farther just felt weird but everything had allot of snap to it.  Just a little bit different motion from the transition.  The 455 was big for me because it was pr for a single and I hit it for a double.  I would like to think my raw bench is right around 500 if Im good and fresh.  I want to take a stab at it sometime in the next 6 weeks to get it just to say Ive done it.  Squats tonight, ready to get back in the suit.

Pull training

I dont know where this lift is at the moment.  It shows signs of greatness and the next workout its shit, well shit for 3-4 workouts then signs of greatness.

Reverse band pulls
245*3*3
335*2
425*1
add suit bottoms
515*1
655*1>opener
745*1*2> these sucked.  I tried briefs on the second set and got a little more pop but my set up was way off and form was shit.  My left elbow is also jacked up and holding the bar was hard, I also got dumb (imagine that) and didnt use any chalk.

banded rack pulls, conventional raw
225*3
405*3
585*3
675*2> pr

ssb good morning off pins
1plate*5*3sets

not the best day but ended up being better than I first thought. Got some work to do on this lift with the setup.

the past week

Spent 2 many hours to count in a truck for work.  It left me dead ass tired

Pulls I hit 665 for 2, shitty
I did a slightly high raw box squat that was ugly as shit with 605 and the gcb

bench I had a meet on Saturday so Wednesday I just did 225 for 2 sets of 30 and some light accesory

We trained again on Thursday and I did some leg shit but not much.

Bench meet write up.

My last workout in the shirt sucked dick.  I was there to bench over 7 so I opened with 705.  Ive had a slight injury in my left pec/shoulder/biceps area for over a month but it was fine come meet day.

warm ups
bar*10*3
135*5*2
245*1
335*1
425*1>1 board
475*1>2 board
These were all fast as shit.  Which is a good sign.
add shirt
565*1>3 board
655*1> 2 board, had a thread pop and that scared the hell out of me but it was fine

First attempt.  We put my shirt back on a little early and my arms were blue before the attempt.

As they hand the bar out my wrist wrap pops off.  We put it back In and I wrap back up.  I take it back out and about 2-3" off my chest it does it again.  My wrist rolled back a little and I yelled take it.

I skipped the second attempt to get the feeling back in my arms.

Third attempt we took the bar out and it felt like nothing.  I get about half way down and my shirt just locks up like crazy on me.  I fight it down and press back up and my right arm comes untucked and is all over the place.  I get it right to lock out and nip the rack just as the ref yells rack.  So close but still I really wanted way more than 705.  The strength is there I just need to clean up the form.  Thats the focus on the two shirt workouts between now and the meet.  I want to do allot of doubles off a 2, 1 and half board.

Tonight its back to work with some dead lifting   I want to break my previous pr of 805 on the reverse band pulls.

Last few.  Way behind work and just busy with other stuff

Friday squats was another week out of the suit
briefs
445*1
535*1
625*1
715*1
add reverse bands
805*1
905*1>cut this high
805*3

finished with some chuck v rows and straight legs

Saturday speed bench
all off 2 foam to save pec
135*3*3
225*3*3
245*3
275*3
315*3

strict overheads
135*5*3
185*5
225*12

face pulls
100 reps

rear delt fly
100 reps

rope pushdowns
100 reps

rope curls
100 reps

cable curls
50 reps

Skipped Mondays workout due to work traveling.  Will squat and pull some tonight since the bench meet is Saturday to make up for last night then more work travel.

Shitty bench workout

One of my big things has been about being tougher mentally.  Everyone will eventually reach the point where they cant overcome stress however.  I reached my limit last night.  My gf who is in a fight with cancer spent most of the day in the er.  Im trying to do a bench only meet next weekend but she is the priority now.  Well as I was talking to her she talked me into going to the gym.  My head just wasnt in it.  My warm up's felt like shit.  I almost missed my last raw warm up.  Just shouldve stayed home

bar*5*3
135*3*2
245*2
335*1
425*1
475*1> nearly missed off a 2 board
add shit
565*1 3brd
655*12 brd
705*miss half board> touched all screwed up and f-ed it up

2 foam sets of 5
245*5
335*5

over heads
135*10
225*8> nearly passed out

rope curls

weightis down about 8lbs.  Head just isnt there Ill be back soon.

Pull training.  This lift was showing great promise then went to shit all of the sudden.  With all of the personal stress lately I needed a good one more for peace of mind than anything.

Started by doing some pvc rolling and heard my back crack about a gazillion times but after the initial pain it quit hurting.

All of our wooden blocks are pretty much busted from pulling so we put the plates on old bumper plates between an inch to an inch and a half off the ground.

warm ups double over hand
135*3*3
225*2*3
315*1
regular grip
405*1
add suit
495*1
I felt good and loose.  On my pull nights I like to get warm and hit my target sets and be done
655*1>projected opener
725*1>planned second
 Stopped there.  I felt good for at least 765.  I feel much better about the pull now.  Next me session will be reverse band pulls trying to beat my previous best of 805 after pulling all three planned meet attempts.

olympic squats
245*5
335*5

stopped there it band is flared up from the road trip last week

GCB good mornings
155*20
245*20

went and ate wings, I call days like this a win.  Im not doing a ton of exercises on pull day but everything is with a bar and its allot of good work.  I need to add in a row movement on me nights.  Next week is a set of 3 in the suit.  Trying to pull 705 for 3 before the meet.

way behind.  Its been a very tough week.  I seem to be saying that allot lately.  I did manage some good training

Bench night
went raw this week with hanging bands
worked up to 505*2 and hit 555*1.  This is a pr with this set up

5 boards with close grip
315*5
405*5
495*5

then did some other shit

squats
worked in light briefs up to 605*6, wanted 10 but I was a little worn down from driving all week.

Today
speed bench for the first time since my injury
6sets

seated over heads
bar*10
145*10
235*10
325*3> started from a lower point, these were a bitch

standing rows
100 reps

rear delt flys
100 reps

arm work
taking something from Lee Priest here and doing my biceps and triceps work in a super set
dbell over head extensions
cable curls

rope pushdowns
rope curls

good one today

we got the news this weekend my gf has ovarian cancer.  It sucks!  We knew for a few weeks now she had some female trouble.  Well the last few our nerves have been torn to shreds due to the thought it may be cancer.  They did test last week and she went Thursday for the results.  Im pissed because I had work stuff come up and couldnt go.  Im sure my bosses wouldve let me but I needed to make the trip.  The plan now is to take the ovaries and tubes out and give her two rounds of chemo.  Its genetic which explains why she got it at such a young age.  Its been a rough one because obviously my performance at work isnt its best due to my mind being elsewhere but I did land a big account for us.  This will pass just like everything else.  Just gotta keep

New Years Eve 

The last workout of the year was rep pulls.  Not much on the agenda just wanted to pull a heavy set of 5 in briefs.  Going into this one my pull has been off for a bit.  Ive had three shitty workouts in a row.  Im begging to doubt myself allot but after yesterday Ive realized my strength is still there.  

warm ups went okay, the goal was to pull a set of 5 with 615.  On my last warm up before the work set though I felt the matt slid under my feet again.  This has been the cause of two of my shitty workouts.  Last week we were pulling triples and 615 kicked my ass after one rep.  That warmup combined with last weeks failure had me worried.  I pulled the first rep and it felt god awful but rep 2 and 3 were smooth.  I got way on my toes as I locked out rep 4 and stopped it there.  Not a win but managed to get my confedence back up

Banded rack pulls.  We pull against purples from around knee level conventional working on snapping the hips and firing the glutes.  I havent been doing these and I can tell I dont have that same snap I had.

225*3

315*3

405*3

495*3

585*3

while doing these I still had my briefs on and noticed they were falling off of me.  This sucks because I only have one pair that seems to work good on the pull but it also made me realize that its a good reason why my pull feels off a bit.  While my weight holds steady between 315-320, Im at a better composition than where I was a few months ago.  This explains why some gear fits again out of the blue, some is way to big, and some has gotten to tight.  Fact is I know Im allot stronger, again like Ive said many times I have to stay out of my head.

We finished with some olympic squats.  Im building up slowly week by week.  I want to do a rock bottom with 5plates for reps soon.  I know its not great but I never did much olymipc style squatting ever until about 2 months ago.  I really feel these kill my glutes and quads.

145*5

235*5

375*5> all pretty easy only worry here was I was going to shit myself.  I like to pause the last one in the hole.  Really makes my glutes and lower backs fire hard to get it out of the bottom and lets my quads take over to finish the lift off.  

did some ab work here at the house.  Feel really good about training going into the new year.  Look for another long post about the bench soon.