Ghost's Training Log

[Ghost]

Thanks please do drop in from time to time. It would be nice to have some feedback/opinions about my lifts, or just simply plain old jabbering.

Squats 5x5 110kg: Doing a couple of workouts with lower weights and concentrating on form helped, but it seems I need to practice a few workouts with a heavy weight. I didn't have the same problems with form when I used the lighter weights. So a couple workouts with 110 to get the form in check before adding more weight.
OHP 5x5 45kg: Argh! Total killer but still managed to complete all sets.
Deadlift 1x5 120kg: A bit of a jump on this but since the last time 1x5 with 112.5kg didn't feel anywhere, I thought I might increase the weight a bit more than just 2.5kgs.
Pull ups 3x5 (4,3,3) 16.25kg: No luck..
Prone Bridge 3x45s: Damn I dislike doing this. It's way worse than ohp or squat.

[pagangoddess]

just simply plain old jabbering.

Just remember you asked for it.

[Ghost]

Did something wrong while doing squats on Monday and tweaked my back. Had to forget about going to the gym for the rest of the week.

[pagangoddess]

That seems to be going around lately. Hope it's nothing serious so you can get back to the weights soon.

[Nje]

Hey Ghost, decided to pop by as you're my closest competitor in the lifts competition You're certainly stronger than me though! I dont have that kind of upper body/core strength.. Quite impressed you can do dragon flags! Ive always wanted to do that. Anyway keep up the good work

[Ghost]

After a week decided to go to the track to see if my back was healthy enough. Rode a bit easy and concentrated on technique more and had no issues with my back. Riding went completely into the toilet though.. Damn I hate it when nothing seems to go right.

That seems to be going around lately. Hope it's nothing serious so you can get back to the weights soon.

Nope, shouldn't be.. It's almost healed already, felt just a teeny tiny amount of pain when I was changing clothes at the track and had to bend down to put my boots on.

Hey Ghost, decided to pop by as you're my closest competitor in the lifts competition

Hehe, just give me a few years to get my lifting back in order and I'll try and catch your 7 lbs lead

You're certainly stronger than me though! I dont have that kind of upper body/core strength.. Quite impressed you can do dragon flags! Ive always wanted to do that. Anyway keep up the good work

Thanks! To be honest, I've always felt that core strength has been the main weak spot in my physique so I'm trying to correct that issue, plus those dragon flags/negatives give that sweet cough-your-lungs-out-from-pain feeling I never got with reversed crunches.

[Nje]

Haha, doubt it'll take a few years to catch up that 7 lbs lead - you have a good shot when Im going on hols for 3 weeks 5th June!

Re core strength, I felt the same about reverse crunches till I realised I wasnt doing them with good form (duh) and now Im stuck on 20 kg counterweight and been for ages as well..

[Ghost]

Squats 5x5 100kg: Juust perfect.. The same thing happened as last time. I was on the second to last rep, everything going good, weight's never felt this light before, I squat down and pop! Get the same kind of pain as last time.. It'll probably be another week again before I can go to the gym. Now if I could just start slow the next time so I won't break anything for the third time..

I felt the same about reverse crunches till I realised I wasnt doing them with good form

Yeah, it probably was that for me too, I needed to do a lot more than just 3x12 to get the same feeling I get with dragon flags. I just like doing them a lot more so I don't think I'll switch back to rev crunches any time soon.

[Ghost]

Finally back in the gym lifting some junk. That week of recovery turned to a month. It's still not completely healthy, I get pain in my back in certain positions, mostly when my back is rounded. The pain's clearly in the muscles though, so I don't think I've broken anything seriously.

Squats 5x5 60kg: Started really light this time 'cause I'm not keen on destroying something for the third time in a row.
OHP 5x5 (5,5,5,3,3) 45kg: This shows that I haven't been able to do pretty much anything. fortunately it's just a few reps less than before the injury.
Deadlift 1x5 90kg: Left this on light side too, so I won't stress the back too much at the beginning.
Pull ups 3xF (12,8,6): Argh! Lousy numbers, that's all I can say about this.
Prone Bridge 3x46s: Do not like. I hope the saying 'pain is weakness leaving the body' holds at least a little truth, 'cause this was painful.

All in all, really glad I was finally able to do something. Not being able to do lifting and that nagging voice in the back of my head going 'everyday you're missing gym is making you weaker' was driving me nuts.

[pagangoddess]

Nice to see you back Ghost. Be patient. The numbers will go back up.

[Nilan666]

wow... ghost....ok that sounded funny

i mean look at you! You've progressed so much and so fast but so few comments!
People have missed you or what!

Impressive stats dude really impressive. I'm so totally jealous of your bench press numbers right now! Mine has been stuck for eternity. I guess i'm just ridiculously weak upper body wise.

And you can do dragon flags but not prone bridges??? hmm that is weird. I maxed out at 1 min 30s on the prone but dragon flags are a BIG ZERO.

Also i've noticed you mentioning track from time to time. You into athletics?

Best thing i like? You go to a gym at a place where there are guys doing the right thing. Squats what else! And holy cow 190kg??? you sure??? you counted the plates and everything?

[Ghost]

Nice to see you back Ghost. Be patient. The numbers will go back up.

Thanks, it's nice to be back. Although the back's still painful. I'm gonna give it another month before I'll see a doctor and if I get 'take a month rest' as an answer I'm not gonna pay the damn bill

i mean look at you! You've progressed so much and so fast but so few comments!
People have missed you or what!

Haha, thanks! It might've played a little part in it that I started SL after I got out of the army, and I happened to be put into a military police team and our drill instructor was a former paratrooper/instructor. Needless to say we had a bit physical training.

I'm so totally jealous of your bench press numbers right now! Mine has been stuck for eternity.

My bench press? I've always thought that I suck at that one! I hate the damn exercise.

I guess i'm just ridiculously weak upper body wise.

Well, fortunately there's only one way to go from there. And I can relate, I've been almost all my youth a really skinny weak guy. Like I'm not right now.

And you can do dragon flags but not prone bridges??? hmm that is weird. I maxed out at 1 min 30s on the prone but dragon flags are a BIG ZERO.

I think it's due to weaker stabilizer muscles. My abs aren't in a bad shape, it's the rest of the core strength I lack.

Also i've noticed you mentioning track from time to time. You into athletics?

No, not in particularly unless you consider motocross athletics. It's friggin tough though. If I go to the best of my ability, it drains my energy a lot more than squatting with the max weight I can. There've been times I almost haven't been able to load my bike back into the car/trailer or change clothes anymore.

Best thing i like? You go to a gym at a place where there are guys doing the right thing. Squats what else! And holy cow 190kg??? you sure??? you counted the plates and everything?

Haha, well.. It's a university gym so there are the usual dimwits who don't know what to do and run around doing different bicep curls but sometimes there comes a dude who knows what to do. and yeah, it truly was 190 kg, counted the plates and asked the guy to be sure. It was freaking nuts, but so was the guy's size. Felt like a tiny mouse next to the guy.

[Ghost]

Trying to do some light workouts while I let the back rest.

Single legged squat 5x5 40kg: Huh, these are pretty fun. And 'cause I can keep my body more upright and use lighter weight it doesn't stress my back so much. Going to do these instead of squats till my back heals.
OHP 5x5 ~31kg: Not really heavy, actually surprisingly light.
Pull ups 1x17: Meh.. Hate the pull up bar I have in the house. Grip keeps slipping.
Prone Bridge 3x47s: As usual, don't like.

[Ghost]

Was outside tossing some basketball with a friend when we got challenged into a match by two random dudes. Damn it was a tough game but we eventually won! Nice to be able to play really even and hard match for a change. Don't see alot of people willing to game like that, so kudos for the two guys.

Even though I was beat from the game, felt a sudden urge to lift a bit. Managed to keep it light though as to not stress my back for nothing, wasn't easy though. Damn lifting impulses

Squats 1x10 ~35kg: Didn't really feel anywhere except for the doms that was starting to kick in.
OHP 1x12 1x10 ~35kg: Could've done more if my arms wouldn't have been sore from yesterday when I had the urge to do pull ups and bicep curls and power ball for fun. Was a bit bored.
Prone Bridge 2x30s one arm behind my back and 2x30s one leg off the ground: Yay! These are fun, I don't have to stay in the position for a long time before it starts to feel.
Push ups 1x20: Seriously dislike this but thought I might do a couple reps just for the heck of it.

[Ghost]

Visited a proper gym for a change.

Single legged squat 5x5 50kg: I'm not sure if I do this wrong and accidentally help with the other leg 'cause it felt so light.
Bench Press 5x5 65kg: Almost failed on the last rep. Went all jiggly trying to get it up.
Press Row 5x5 50kg: Strange, haven't done this in ages and still managed to improve on it right away.
Dips 3x5 15kg: Same with this, although a couple reps were so damn shaky and formless I need to repeat the weight.
Prone Bridge 3x60s: The last one really started to feel.