jnealp Training Log

[jnealp]

Ok. I'm about to do Day 3/Week 1.

I'll do some starting history/stats.

33yo
5'9"
165 lbs.

I have always been a hard-gainer. The main problem that I have is not having time to eat the calories required to support my high metabolism. I also have quite a sweet tooth. Thus the belly I am beginning to form. I began working out seriously in February of this year. I was a member of MensHealth Personal Trainer. It was a great to get me started, but I wasn't seeing the results that I hoped for. I decided to meet with a personal trainer at my gym, and he told me about this site. I read everything on it over the weekend, and I was hooked. I couldn't wait to get started!!! I began on Monday, and here's what happened:

Squat -
1x5@45
5x5@90

Bench -
1x5@45
5x5@90

Inverted Row -
15, 12, 8

Push-ups -
25, 15, 12

Reverse Crunch -
3x12

I really had no problems with any of this; however, this was my first shot at the Inv Row. It was awesome!! Can't wait to get the numbers up and use the bench!

[jnealp]

Day 2 - 11/12/08

I met with the personal trainer on Wednesday. He evaluated me on form and made sure I understood the program. He was impressed that I had done as much research on everything. He promised to watch me as much as possible and give me pointers on form as I workout. Very nice guy, and he seemed quite knowledgeable.

Squat -
1x5@45
1x5@90
5x5@105

Overhead Press-
1x5@45
1x5@75
5x5@90

Deadlift-
1x5@110
1x5@135
1x5@155

Pull-Ups-
7,5,4

Prone Bridges-
3x30 sec.

He really pushed me hard. I will more than likely hit my first deload stage on the OP fairly early. I want to make sure that the form is okay. Deadlift was very easy. I was impressed with myself on the Pull-Ups. I had it in my head that I would only be able to do 3 or 4 max.

Like I said earlier, my problem is the food issue. My wife is trying to lose 35 pounds, and I'm trying to maintain my weight while losing fat. It would rock to be 165 with BF being at 9 or 10%!!! I lead a very unpredictable and stressful lifestyle, and I'm never sure when I'm gonna get to eat. I've read that I need to be eating like 3000+ calories. I'm finding that I'm lucky to get 1800-2000. And, my inherited sweet tooth is not kind. I start trembling by 9pm if I haven't had some chocolate. Any ideas out there for guys like me? I welcome them!

[jnealp]

Day 3 - 11/14/08

Squat-
1x5@45
1x5@85
5x5@110

Bench-
2x5@45
5x5@95

Inv Row-
15,11,10

Push Ups-
26,14,12

Rev Crunch-
3x12

Pretty good workout today. While I was doing squats, I became extremely distracted by a trio of guys on the cable machines. I say guys. One was about 400 lbs. and looked like the father of the group. One was about 19 years old. The other looked to be about 9 or 10. The big guy sat on the seated row bench for about 30 minutes doing nothing but wiping sweat. The 19 year old did nothing but yell at the kid for not doing the exercises right. He kept screaming, "Squeeze, Eli! You're not doing it right, Eli! Come on, Eli!" Once Eli was finished he went to his "dad" and began crying and apologizing for being weak. Now, I've got a real problem with that. I'm not a father, but I can tell you everything in me was wanting to go punch both of the idiots in the face. It's a free country, so if the kid wants to work out, I say let him. I just have a problem with belittling the kid and yelling at him like that. Uncalled for. I think I shall call management today and report a problem...

[baughmjk]

Great start man. That trainer sounds like a good resource to have around. It's a big help to have someone watching your form, especially since that's a large part of what this program is all about. Along those lines, I would really recommend picking up Starting Strength. With that and the trainer you'd be set.

[jnealp]

Thanks for the encouragement! I'll get that book as soon as I can... I'm worried about bench. I need to make sure I have the right hand and wrist position. I'm also EXTREMELY intimidated to ask for a spotter. People in my gym aren't too friendly, but that just may be my perception.

[jnealp]

Day 4 - 11/18/08

Squat-
1x5@45
1x5@85
5x5@115

OHP-
1x5@45
1x5@75
5,5,5,5,4@95

Deadlift-
1x5@135
1x5@160

Chin-ups-
7,5,4

Prones-
3x30 sec

Good workout. I got off my schedule by a day due to having to move my sister from MS to TX. I'm gonna do Tu, Th, Sa this week.

OHP was tough today. I didn't eat any carbs before my workout. I had a protein shake before as normal, but I didn't have my normal apple with it. I felt like I was running out of gas. Maybe that's what it was. Not sure.

Very stressful week this week. The gym is like my little sanctuary and the only thing that can get me through...

[OmegaRedIsDMan]

jeanlp

nice OHP numbers. Had you done that excercise before starting this program?
My OHP is probably my weakest excercise. I cant yet do 5x5 @ 95lbs. I injured both my shoulders doing karate self defense moves about 4 years ago and they have never been the same since. My shoulders do feel better since I've started doing OHP though.

-DMan

[jnealp]

Yes. I had been doing the OHP for about 2 months. 95 lbs is my PR. I worked with a personal trainer the first day to make sure that my form was correct on all of the exercises.

I know that this is only my second week doing the program, but I am seeing some results already. Folks are even coming up to me and asking what I have been doing. I helped move my sister the other day and was able to lift everything with absolutely no problems at all. Not even a little sore!!!!!

Thanks, stronglifts!!

[jnealp]

Day 5 - 11/20/08

Squat-
1x5@45
1x5@85
5x5@120

Bench-
1x5@45
1x5@65
5x5@100

Inv Row-
17,10,8

Push Ups-
30,12,12

Rev Crunch-
3x12

Great workout today; however, I began running out of gas on my Rev crunches. It's funny that when I started this program, I thought this looked easy. No problem!! Boy, was I wrong. I really begin to feel it by the third exercise. I love challenging myself every workout and seeing the results.

[jnealp]

Day 6 - 11/22/08

Squat-
1x5@45
1x5@85
5x5@125

OHP-
1x5@45
1x5@75
5x5@95

Deadlift-
1x5@135
1x5@165

Chin-ups-
7,6,5

Prones-
3x30 sec

OHP is definitely getting more difficult. Beginning to wonder if I really have the form correct. Hmph...

[jnealp]

Day 7 - 11/24/08

Squat-
1x5@45
1x5@85
5x5@130

Bench-
1x5@45
1x5@65
5x5@105

Inv Row-
17,10,10

Push Ups-
31,15,10

Rev Crunch-
3x12

No problems at all today. The only thing that seems consistent is running out of gas on the Reverse Crunches...

[jnealp]

Day 8 - 11/22/08

Squat-
1x5@45
1x5@85
5x5@135

OHP-
1x5@45
1x5@75
1x4@115
4x5@95

Deadlift-
1x5@135
1x5@185

Chin-ups-
7,6,5

Prones-
3x30 sec

I don't know what I was thinking on my OHP. Bad addition, I suppose... It pretty much kicked my butt, so I had to go down to 95 lbs. I'll stay at 95 until I am sure that I can get the form correct. I will deload if I just don't feel right about it.

I can't say enough how much my body is changing on this program. I'm only on day 8, and my shirts are starting to get tight, and the legs of my pants are starting to get snug. WOO HOO!!! I can't wait to see what will happen in the next few weeks...

[baughmjk]

If you haven't already, take some 'before' pics, and maybe some measurements. That's one thing I really wish I had done before starting this program.

Keep up the good work!

[wolfking09]

Youve got some nice numbers there on your ohp
im glad youre getting results and are feeling motivated by your training.

promise me this though: keep a track on what the 400lb fat guys doing training wise,it sounds fascinating lets hope little Eli learns to "squeeze" correctly.