Bluestreak's 2nd Training Log

[jnjh]

Hey there Bluestreak. I follow your logic on the body fat theory.

I feel I can lift more when I'm at a higher BF. My theory is that, if I'm putting on fat, it's a sign that I've got excess calories, which means I have the appropriate amount of energy to lift/recover.

I tend to think similarly. I feel I need to weigh more to lift more, especially when dealing with squats and deadlifts. (Even if the weight ends up sitting around my ... middle region!)

[FatGuyNoMore]

Good luck at your meet... do you keep your shins like this | instead of \ when you have the box on your squats so low?

[bluestreak]

Monday, 03 Aug 09

Today was the last workout for about 8 days. I've got a lot of travel lined up.

My mate was in. He and I lifted together, which was fun. I helped him on his deadlift form (he was doing 180 kg) while he helped me with my bench.

Deadlift
1x5 @ 60 kg
1x5 @ 100 kg
1x3 @ 120 kg
1x1 @ 140 kg
-/- @ 150 kg
* Damn, that 140 kg lift was hard. Very slow initially. 140 kg is my old 1x5 PR.
* I just couldn't get the bar off the ground for 150 kg. After the second attempt, my head hurt

Bench
1x5 @ 40 kg
1x5 @ 60 kg
1x4 @ 70 kg
3/4/3/3 @ 72.5 kg
* Sweet. Sure, he was helping me lift it at a few points but I don't really care. Was just happy to be lifting with proper form on a weight that felt really heavy.
* Really felt the bench in my triceps today. My mate was telling me my form is much improved.
* One problem I continue to have is that my butt lifts off the bench

I left the gym with that shaky feeling - a sign I pushed myself.

Good luck at your meet... do you keep your shins like this | instead of \ when you have the box on your squats so low?

Mostly straight, hence the lighter weight (well, light for me)

[mjh]

hey bluestreak, I thought I might finally get around to returning those DVDs of yours. You haven't moved house in the last year, have you?

[rere]

After the second attempt, my head hurt

I know the feeling, beauty is a few attempts from now you'll get it.

Keep it up Bluestreak.

[bluestreak]

Monday, 17 Aug 09

First workout in about two weeks. Trip felt long... spending that much time flying really does a number on my mobility.

Today was spent doing my entire foam rolling and mobility routine, as well as most of Inside/Out. That was followed up by some OHP, bench, rows and push ups.

Tomorrow, I'll start lifting heavy again.

After the second attempt, my head hurt

I know the feeling, beauty is a few attempts from now you'll get it.

Keep it up Bluestreak.

Thanks Rere!

[eLvarouza]

Welcome back bluestreak!

* I just couldn't get the bar off the ground for 150 kg. After the second attempt, my head hurt

I've found that breaking the bar from the floor on the deadlift isn't so much an issue of pushing really hard against the ground as much as it is keeping the back incredibly tight. Of course you want to pull fast, but if the back isn't very strongly locked in position the bar won't move, or if it does your back will be very upset with you either immediately or the next day.

Whenever I've had trouble breaking the bar from the floor it's always been due to the lower back not being set strong enough, or the lower back simply being fatigued, such as the fourth or fifth rep of a 5RM, but it's never really been a problem with a lack of quad strength.

I guess hamstring strength and fatigue can be an issue as well, in that if the hamstrings can't anchor the back angle the bar won't really go anywhere, but I haven't had that problem yet.

I don't know if any of that will be useful to you, but it's just something I've noticed.

[Vlad]

Welcome back, Ben, and good luck with your comp preparation!

[groundskeeperwillie]

Hi bluestreak. Look at it this way mate, all the hard work you're putting in now with your job, will pay off later when you earn your first million, then you can train to your hearts content using your solid gold weights! simples!



gkw

[keyboardworkout]

Bluestreak,

You and I have a very similar build. I'm 6'7' and 230 pounds. I'm a couple of weeks into a 3x5 program (I'll progess to 5x5). I feel like an inflexible ostrich doing squats. I'll use you as motivation on improving my squat.

Great progress.

[bluestreak]

Friday, 21 Aug 09

Squats
3x5 @ 100 kg
* Felt heavy and form wasn't that hot

Bench
Forgot the details... but did a bunch around 70 kg. Felt good to go heavy

Monday, 24 Aug 09
Squat
3x5 @ 100 kg
* Much better today. Kept the chest up. Last set felt easy

OHP
2x5 @ 40 kg
* Was watching the time; decided to do only two sets

Deadlift
1x5 @ 100 kg
1x2 @ 120 kg
1x0 @ 140 kg
* What the heck? Deadlift feels really off recently.

Chins
2/1/1 - no assistance
* The first rep is always from a jump but was really surprised on the first set, when all of a sudden, this strength I never knew I had enabled me to get a proper chin up. Wow.
* All that heavy (well, for me) bench and practice of chins is slowly paying off. Push ups keep get better as well. I can feel my lats, my pecs continue to develop and my arms are slowly getting bigger.

In other news, during my time away I was in tropics. I got this really bad rash while I was there - turns out it was eczema. I've still got it and it's pretty bad on my legs. It burns whenever I get water/sweat on it. Cream stings as well. Bloody annoying.

You and I have a very similar build. I'm 6'7' and 230 pounds. I'm a couple of weeks into a 3x5 program (I'll progess to 5x5). I feel like an inflexible ostrich doing squats. I'll use you as motivation on improving my squat.

Thanks! I know the feeling re squats. I felt like that on all exercises. Make sure to get mobility exercises and foam rolling in. It's something I always do pre-workout.

I have to say that my pet peeve is when people say "oh, it must be so hard lifting that much when you're tall". It's as if they're making excuses for me.

GKW - Give me a good, dependable training partner any day over fancy weights

Vlad - thanks! Admittedly, the comp is at the back of my mind. Hard being successful at several things at once.

eLvarouza - Thanks for that - it helped. I completely agree that the lower back fatigue is an issue. For some reason, my lower back is always sore after these long-haul flights.

I took your advice about being totally locked. Made a difference.

I think part of it is that I've just been focusing on other exercises. It's typical that I improve in one area and get a bit worse in others.

[guru]

Welcome back Ben. Hope the eczema cures soon.

[groundskeeperwillie]

Bloody annoying.

Yes it is mate. I've got patch on my left calf about the size of my palm, and it flares up whenever the skin gets dry. All I do is put moisturising cream on it for a couple of days and it seems to calm it down. I use Nivea Soft Intensive Moisturising Cream, don't know if you can get down under though.

gkw

[bluestreak]

Wednesday, 26 Aug 09

Squats
1x5 @ 40 kg
1x5 @ 60 kg
1x3 @ 80 kg
1x2 @ 100 kg
1x1 @ 110 kg
1x1 @ 120 kg
1x0 @ 130 kg

Bench
1x10 @ 20 kg
1x5 @ 40 kg
1x5 @ 50 kg
3x5 @ 60 kg
2/1 @ 70 kg

Chins
2/1/1/3
* Last set was assisted, with no jumping start

Push ups
3/-

By the time I got to the push ups, I was really sore. My lower back didn't feel right and now I'm really sore on my mid back, off to the right. Feels like someone punched me in that spot. I'll see how I go; likely won't do much more then mobility work on Friday.

GKW - glad I'm not the only one suffering with this! I usually get it in my joints but this time it's all over. Skin felt terrible but the cream I got makes it feel better. Oddly enough, one of them is a paraffin and wax ointment.

Guru - thank you. Now, if only I can get over this back issue.

[mjh]

I've also had bad ecxema when in warm climates. Often in the crook of my elbow, or on my fingers. Doesn't help that it is aggravated by water... are you supposed to not wash? The hands never cleared up 100% until I got some prescription steroid ointment.

Good to see you back in the gym... until the next business trip!