Barry's Training Log

[Barry06GT]

What a coincidence-I live in New Providence, it's a great small town. I grew up in Whitehouse Station before it became so developed - was surrounded by cornfields.
I would miss the Jersey shore too if I ever moved away. I think I would always need to live on a coastline. The ocean is too important to me not to visit it periodically. How far is Portland from the coast? What are the biggest differences that you have noticed between NJ and Oregon?

As my boys get older, I would love to rent an RV and travel across country each summer.

Ooops......forgot this was a forum about weightlifting You are kicking my butt on OHP. I JUST got 70lbs today. Have only been trying for WEEKS! Stupid lift

As the saying goes, small world. I grew up on 64 Fairview Ave, attended Allen W, Robberts and New Providence High. I graduated a "Powerful Pioneer".

Major difference between NJ and the Portland area is that NJ has four seasons, Portland has only two: it rains from September to July 6, and almost never rains from July 7 to September. Portland never gets hot or cold, a small snow flurry closes the area (we have no snow plows). Portland to coast (we have no shore) is just over an hour. Beach wear all summer is sweat pants and a hoodie, as the cost is always cool and windy and often misty.

Thanks for the encouragement. Sigh, I have to repeat 70# OHP on Monday as my lifts were not clean and with good form; but, 70# is really heavy!


.

[Barry06GT]

Thursday May 28; Workout A; Workout Number 16

Squat
45# 5x1 Warm up
100# 5x5

Bench Press
75# 5x1 Warm up
95# 5x5

IR
7 / 5 / 5

Push Ups
6 / 4 / 6

Rev Crunch
3x12

This was an easy week because Bernice and I took Monday as the holiday it was, and only hit the gym Tuesday and Thursday. Hey, a little extra rest days every once in a while can't be bad. Next week we are back to the three workouts per week. Excited because my squats next week, body willing, will be 105#, 110#, and 115# on Friday.

.

[Barry06GT]

Monday June 1 Workout 'B' Workout Number 17

Squat 105
5 / 5 / 5 / 5 / 5

OH Press 70
5 / 5/ 5 / 5 / 5

Dead Lift 135
80 x 5 Warm up
135 x 5
Got my BIG WHEELS. Two 45# plates. This felt good, tight.

Chin Ups
35# assist 8
Did eight then stopped. I looked at my wife and said "this felt too easy". She did hers and said the same thing. We failed to notice that a "half plate" was placed on top of the weight stack.
20# assist 4 / 4

Prone Bridge
This is still a mystery to me. What the he11 do prone bridges do? I feel all shaky after 30 seconds or so, but besides "core" what muscle group do they work?

A good workout. Had a board meeting after at the Copper Monkey, a combo laser tag place and bar. Had a Cobb Salad, as the 'best' thing I could eat. The two Buds prolly killed my efforts but that the biz baby.

.

[Kathy]

Prone Bridge
This is still a mystery to me. What the he11 do prone bridges do? I feel all shaky after 30 seconds or so, but besides "core" what muscle group do they work?

Yes, they work the core. Are you still doing them with your arms straight? If so, you should probably progress to putting your forearms on the floor like

When you are up on your hands/arms straight, you shift more of your weight to your feet so the exercise is a bit easier this way.
Squeeze everything like you are going to get punched in the stomach and also squeeze your glutes. If they are getting too easy, try putting one leg up in the air about 3 inches and holding or continue with 2 legs and put a 5 or 10lb plate on your back.

A good workout. Had a board meeting after at the Copper Monkey, a combo laser tag place and bar. Had a Cobb Salad, as the 'best' thing I could eat. The two Buds prolly killed my efforts but that the biz baby. .

Hmmmm...what biz are you in? Never in my accounting/finance career did I get to attend a meeting at a laser tag place!

[Barry06GT]

Thank you for the video Kathy, that really helped. I never thought of squesing my glutes to tighten up the entire core. I do them on my elbows. Only did them once with my arms extended (like a push up) and that was only because I was chimping what my wife was doing.

As far as the board meeting, I was elected a board member of my car club.

.

[Barry06GT]

Wednesday June 3; Workout 'A'; Workout number 18

Squat
110 5x5

Bench Press
100 5x5 New PR

IR
7 / 5 / 5

Push Ups
6 / 5 / 5
My show-off wife just had to do one or two more of these than I could do.

Rev Crunch
3x12

I had a great workout, but my wife did not. That always bums me out a bit. I hate to watch the ones I love struggle.

.

[Barry06GT]

Monday June 8 ; Workout 'B' ; Workout number 19

Squat
45#
5x1
105#
5x1 -Did this because I can't add, my wife was quick to point this out.
115#
5x5 -It felt GREAT to load the bar with TWO 35# plates.
Two 35 pound plates looked impressive. Did all 5 sets of 5.

Overhead Press
75#
5 / 5 / 4 / Boom!
Mission Control, we have a problem! Hit the wall! Could NOT get the bar up for a single rep on the forth set. Complete failure.
Will de-load to 70 pounds, which I got all 5x5 last week, and will try for perfect form.

Dead Lift
145# New PR
5x1
This is just 10# from body weight!!!

Chin Ups
20# assist
3 / 3 / 3
Greasing the Grove at home with my Total Gym doorway pull up daily task master.

Prone Bridges
Thank you Kathy for the video! I tightend my core and sqeezed my glutes (this feels kinda sexy/funny) and shook through 3 sets of 30 seconds. When you are contracting all thoes muscles, this really takes a lot out of you!

After Note
I let the OHP get into my head. After failing at 70#, this voice in my head said I would stall at 75, I let the voice win; that is why I could not do a single rep on the 4th set.

.

[Lesleylifts]

Hi Barry -
great job on the squat and the dead lift! That OHP is a killer, isn't it? I stalled three times at 60lbs and had to deload to 55. Got the 55 last time, so on Thursday I will try 60 again. I can't stop thinking about it!
It's great that you and your wife work out together - I love working out with the hubby.
Lesley

[Barry06GT]

Wednesday June 10 ; Workout "A" ; Workout Number 20

Squat 120#
5 /5 /5 /5 / 5
This is getting heavy!

Bench Press 105#
5 / 5 / 5 / 5 / 5

IR
7 / 5 / 5

Push Ups
2 / 2 / 2
No excuses here. Don't know what happened. My shoulder was sore form the failed OHP on Monday, plus the killer bench press with a sore shoulder, there, is that a good enough excuse?

Rev Crunch
3x12
Did these on the floor because the sit up thing was being used. Both my wife and I liked doing them on the floor better (reverse crunch that is).

.

[Lesleylifts]

Good job on the squats, Barry. My husband has complained of a sore shoulder too after OHP and BP, so sounds like a good excuse to me!

[Barry06GT]

Good job on the squats, Barry. My husband has complained of a sore shoulder too after OHP and BP, so sounds like a good excuse to me!

The funny thing is that Bernice and I do our workout together, and push ups side by side. Last night she is counting out, like 5 to 7, and I could only do 2. She is really dedicated though!

.

[Barry06GT]

Friday June 12 ; Workout "B" ; Workout Number 21

Squat 125 lbs.
5 / 5 / 5 / 5 / 5
This felt good. My eating and rest must have been just right, as I felt quezy aftr Wednesday's 120.

OHP 70 lbs.
5 / 5 / 5 / 5 / 5
This was a de-load from the stalled 75 lb attempt on Monday. Me thinkie I will remain at this weight next week as I only have one Workout "B" next week on Wednesday. Work on form and getting stronger.

Dead Lift 155 lbs NEW PERSONAL RECORD AND LEAN BODY WEIGHT LIFT
5 x 1
Woo Hoo! Currently I am hovering around 160, +/- a few, so I declared this a body weight accomplishment! As another person said: "Damn, I'm heavy!" On Wednesday I will go for 160 lbs.

Chin Ups
3 reps negative
20 lbs assist 3 / 3

Prone Bridges
3 x 30 sec.

I was happy to get the body weight dead lift. I felt like there was more in the tank and wanted to go to 165, but damn, that sucker is heavy. I bow to all of the StrongLifts men and woman who have hit that weight and moved on. I hope to stand in your shadows some day.

.

[Lesleylifts]

Great workout, Barry - congrats on the deadlift!

[Kathy]

GREAT job on the deadlift Barry!! Excellent!!

[bobu]

Good workout! You're moving right along.