Discordian in training (Log)

[discordian]

Exercise #24 - with a camera!

Squats 85kg - Hmm. I managed to keep my back and knees in order, but with several reps I did a goodmorning when coming up. I leaned too much forward. How to fix this? (More real depth couldn't hurt either.)

Overhead Press 45kg - Didn't think I could. But I did! Now I feel like I slightly sprained my neck/back.

Deadlift 95kg - Huh? I thought I'd go heavier, but it just felt so bloody heavy after OHP. Well. I can just keep progressing from 95.

Chin/Pull-ups 8(c)-4(p)-3(p) - Like previous time. Too tired at this point. I tried these at home on a rest day and got 8 pullups with reasonable shape.

Overall B+ workout. Squats might be getting too heavy for me, unless I figure out the form problem. My hip hurts because of it. This 'GMng up' seems to be rather common problem for people. Atleast my back seems solid now! And OHP was a surprise! I might have indeed sprained something in my neck doing it. But 45kg over my puny head is still an achievement!

Disc

.. I'm going to be hurting tomorrow.

[javanek]

Not the dreaded Good Morning Squats!?! I hate when that happens. You may want to check how wide your stance is. Try opening it up just a bit and keep your head up. Usually when I had that problem I was looking at my feet. (Which is why my shoes have 'GO UP' written on the toes. ) Have to really work on form though or you'll kill your back with them.

Still not a bad day though. High five on the OHP!

[discordian]

Not the dreaded Good Morning Squats!?! I hate when that happens. You may want to check how wide your stance is. Try opening it up just a bit and keep your head up. Usually when I had that problem I was looking at my feet. (Which is why my shoes have 'GO UP' written on the toes. ) Have to really work on form though or you'll kill your back with them.

I know!
I do have a theory how they happen: It is because of the bloody mirror and safety bars. Wanting to (only) almost hit the safeties makes an unconscious desire to lean down to do it. If I can't fix it this week then I'll get a lighter week for practising.

Still not a bad day though. High five on the OHP!

Thanks! OHP is just somehow.. hell-hard-fun.

Disc.

[discordian]

Exercise #24 - Urgh!

Squats 85kg - Did this weight again since form was iffy last time. Felt and looked better, though there was still some lean at some reps. As a guide: height of the bar tells nothing about depth..

Cleans 5x3x40kg - Ok. This was a mess! An older guy wanted to alternate with me and the weight was too much. I lost concentration and in general made a fool of myself. Perhaps I should return to rows since I always seem to make a mess with cleans.

Bench 5-5-5-4-5 60kg - Gah! Almost! But I still congratulate myself of the cat-like grace of returning the bar to safeties without making a rattle. I think I would have made it if the bench would have been free after I stopped squating.

Dips 5-0-0 - At to this point I was feeling pain, confusion and frustration.

I had no motivation for going and made a mess of things. I had pain in my upper back which steadily got worse during the training and dips were especially vulnerable.

Disc.

.. I had a goal of going and I did. That has to count for something.

[javanek]

Ten brownie points for going, mate. I agree with you about the bench, this is why I make sure that they are early in the workout. A couple of times when I did them at the end it was a symphony of failure. Glad to hear the squats looked better. Going to move up the weight next time or stick with it for one more workout to get form down?

Just one of those days, my friend. Keep smiling!

[Buffalo150]

Disc-

Just keep at the Cleans...be fearless!

-Bflo

[mae]

.. I had a goal of going and I did. That has to count for something.

Damn right it counts for something! Your squats are improving and you very nearly had the bench. Yay progress...even if you don't see it right now, it will be readily apparent next time. Keep up the good work!

[discordian]

Exercise #26

First: Thanks for you support, all! It has positive effect on me.

Squats 87.5kg - Decided to increase. I think I did rather well, though I still have one rather visible problem left. I can't properly straighten my left wrist. But this is something that mr. broomstick will fix in time. I got some comments due to weight from onlookers. That was nice.

Overhead press 5-3-2-1-0x47.5kg - Way over me! But this was expected. I think I can improve the count when my neck and left shoulder stop giving me pain. I'll try few times If can improve number of reps.

Deadlift 100kg - Back to proper numbers. I think I'm back on the wagon with this. I still think using smaller weights for few sessions was a good idea.

Chin/Pullups 9(c)-5(p)-3(p) - Haha! Almost at a midway goal with chinups. I think I could crank over ten on my rest day if I managed this after heavy squats and deads.

Today I was positively surprised of the mood in the gym. It was the same steady group of early morning people that has been working out there for months and the atmosphere is really turning into a positive one. Hopefully I could contribute to that.

Disc

.. Best hyperlink add at 5x5: "Symptoms, causes & treatments of Exercise". I almost want to click to see what the causes are..

[javanek]

Great job on the weights, man. Other than OHP, which is tough once the weight gets up there, looks like an A day for you, mate. I wouldn't be too worried about them at all. It's a tough lift, takes a lot of work to make little gain, but you'll get it. You did get five on the first set, so there's something positive to focus on. As far as the positive mood in the gym, I hesitate a guess to say that you probably already are contributing to it. Just keep that winner attitude and focus. It rubs off on those around you.

[discordian]

Exercise #27

Squats 90kg - Heavy! Hope I was deep enough.
Bench 50kg - A weird pain appeared on my left shoulder on the weekend, so I slacked of slightly. Back to 60kg later
million sets of hang cleans 30kg - Aagh! This is cursed exercise. It will always make rest of my workout go wrong. This time there was a whole comittee of people trying to fix my form, but they didn't agree on much more that "It's Wrong". Back to reading starting strength I guess..
Dips 0-0-0 - Painful shoulder, plus cleaning umpteen sets so no time for these.

I'm happy with my squat currently, but this neck/shoulder pain is getting annoying.

Disc.

.. I'd better learn those bloody cleans at some point. Wouldn't like to waste that much effort otherwise.

[discordian]

Bonus Exercise 1

I went wall climbing for the first time! And it is the same day I did my personal record set in squats so at first I felt really reluctant. But then again why not? No spartan hoplite stopped under a cliff just because he did exercise in the morning. So why would I?
As much as I love to get on with big and bigger squats, I want to feel that I have functional strength as well. And gripping a rounded lego brick while searching for a foothold does give an impression of this.

And it was really fun. Extremely hard on the grip which probably will pay off with deads. And it has some thrill when you are seven meters up the wall and realize that you are holding everything that you can put your fingers around and your grip is going in the next 5 seconds unless you think of something.

Perfect to improve my mood after trouble with the cleans.

Disc.

.. Did I mention that I have a horrid fear of heights?

[mae]

Woohoo, wall climbing is great fun! Glad to hear you had a good time. I've been thinking quite a bit about "functional strength" following a great hike yesterday, and now that I've read your post my hopes are high that I'll be climbing more difficult sections next time I go to the climbing gym!

Here is where I would say something constructive about the hang cleans, but since I know nothing about cleans, I'll just tell you not to get too caught up on that one aspect of your training--after all, your squats are awesome and you're making great progress on the pull-ups/chin-ups. Don't get discouraged.

[amaeland]

wow, that is quite an achievement with the climbing bearing in mind your fear of heights! Really nice squat numbers you got, too.

Also interesting what you are saying about functional strength. Big up

[discordian]

Exercise #28

Squats 92.5kg - Whoa! These are heavy! I did them all although I had this incredible urge to drop the bar to safeties. Someone commented that I go too deep, so I guess I'm doing it about right. (Placed the camera badly, so I can only verify that my back was ok)
Press 5-0-0-0-0x40kg - I had a slightly painful shoulder and thought to do less. Now I have really painful shoulder.
Deadlift 105kg - Not really bad as such, but I felt really stiff. I know I have strength to pull this easily, but it wasn't coming out. Still, five reps.
Chinups 2-0-0 - Yep. The shoulder said "don't".

Even though I missed out most of these it still took almost hour and half! I know I'm not supposed to deload except on three failures or bad technique, but I feel that I can't keep this up. I have accrued more minor pains past two week than rest of my training. My squat sets have long pauses in them. I have troubles completing my exercises and my motivation is on the decline. I feel tired!

I don't intend to complain since that is not really constructive, but I'd like some advice.

On the positive side, today other regulars started to do squats. I don't know, but I'd like to think that it is because they see how squats have benefited me.

Disc.

.. Ow! my shoulder...

[ewerbos]

Those are some awesome squats.

If you're feeling tired and beat-up, maybe taking a week off would help? I have read that folks recommend a week off every month or so, especially if you're feeling tired.