nickh's training progress

[nickh]

What exactly am I experimenting withÉ I am doing exactly what is described on http://stronglifts.com/the-key-to-stren ... e-loading/, in medhis first comment he says to increase weight for bigger muscles with whatever you are comfortable with, ie squats I do 10lbs. Other exercises I do 5lb. Now where exactly does it specifically state 5lbÉ

The deadlift I did not raise because I had problems with grip last time. So yes I do understand progressive loading. I`m sorry but your comment wasn`t any help at all, just a blind stab and what you think im doing wrong.

[ukdudeinuk]

You're not increasing the weight every time. You're playing games, saying OH THIS TIME WAS EASY INCREASE MOAR and then the next time OH DAMN ITS GETTING HARD MAYBE I SHOULDNT HAVE

Plus I saw like 3 workouts with squats at 135. Just increase by 5 imo, so you don't have to play these guessing games.

[nickh]

Some quick updates.

Currently 120.2 LBS. I don't feel like I put on much fat but I have no way of measuring. Been eating well, with the exception of really cheap, really good chinese last nite Will have to monitor this since I'd really like to only gain lean muscle even if it takes longer, no rush.

I haven't missed any days at the gym, which I suppose is good. Still tracking progress in my spreadsheet. Dips have become easier, and I'm able to push 3 sets of 5 out finally.

I need spots now on my benchpress even at just 85lbs, which may prove difficult as there might not be many people around when I go, sides ladies on the threadmill. I had an embarassing moment on my 4th set, 5th rep where I couldn't bring it back up

Squats are still progressing however I am still skeptical I am not going low enough. the cool gym staff member I spoke to said I can test it with a bench under my butt, and he'd be there next time to judge. I am going up to 160lbs tomorrow as I was able to do 155lb with proper form on all sets. Hadn't been able to do that before. I notice it is alot easier when I'm pumped and in good spirits, been rough lately and didn't help much.

been doing reverse crunches aswell lately and I think that might be helping with exercises since my torso feels more 'solid'.

I don't feel like my upper back is getting any stronger... bent over row is primarily for that, yes? I feel like I am doing it correct form with as much weight I can manage atm. will focus on this.

[nickh]

WEEK 6, DAY 1

Squats - Completed at 5/5/5/5/2 with 160lbs. Will try again next time with same weight. Not sure if my legs were tired or I just went too low and couldn't make it back up. This was the first time stalling on the squat, thank goodness for the guard bar else I would of fallen over with the weights I think I was really focusing on going low on my squats and with the heavier weights its alot tougher to come back up.

Overheadpress - Completed at 5/5/5/3/2 with 65lbs. Will try again next time. I feel like Ive gotten a bit stronger at this one even though I didn't complete it.

Deadlift - Completed at 1x5 with 145lbs. didn't seem too hard but my back feels tight now. I am not doing proper form and putting the weight on the floor on each rep. but just keeping it low, is the a huge problem?

Chinups - Completed at 3x5. Too easy. need to add more, possibly more reps/sets or weights.

[nickh]

WEEK 6, DAY 2

POOR WORKOUT

Didn't eat breakfast before workout, and pretty much ruined my diet on canada day with white rice, fried fish, pizza, and a snickers and twix bar! things that I usually never eat. Of course it mattered as todays workout felt terrible, I felt like I was lifting twice as much on my squat, even though I had did 160lb the previous workout fine.

Squats - Completed 5x5 at 160lbs. Felt terrible, didn't have much energy because no breakfast

BenchPress - completed at 90lbs, was harder but my spotter made it seem too easy as he guided it so it wasnt all over the place....

Rows - completed at 5x5 with 90lbs, seemed manageable but muscles got tired fast

Dips completed 3x5 bw, too easy..., going to add weight but i dont know where /how to hold it with my legs...

[nickh]

weigh in at 118.8lbs

So I realized my scale( conair weightwatchers ww83) has a bodyfat measurement option too! Quite excited to see what mine was I set it up and got 33% BF

Can`t believe that is right, or is it... Male, 26, 5`4, 118lbs

I`M FAT!! Must investigate!

[nickh]

WEEK 6, DAY 3

Squats - Completed 5x5 with 165lbs. Seemed alot easy with a good nights rest and food I asked the gym staff today to critque my squat and deadlift. He is a great guy, gave me pointers, and told me I had good form. As I already knew my breathing was off and he corrected me, its amazing how much more sense it makes when there is someone showing you as opposed to reading how to do it. It was amazing, the squats actually were a ton easier once I was breathing properly. Also as I knew I wasn`t going COMPLETELY down on squats but making it just below paralell on the squats.

Overheadpress - Completed 5x5 with 65lbs, finally. It was actually more like 5.5.4.5.5 with me using momentum on the last few. i still find this really difficult but if there is any part of my body that needs it is my upper, I will rally on!

Deadlift - Completed 2x5 with 150lbs. I did 2 sets as I was showing him my form, which was apparently fine with the exception of me not pulling my shoulders back at the top. I was actually sore this morning from the deadlifts, either that or all that walking I did yesterday, it was awesome, this is finally what I want

Pullups - did 5 5 3, dunno what happened here but these seemed so hard and the 2nd set i could barely make my head over the bar... seems to be getting harder, WHYé

[nickh]

Reprogrammed the scale today and weighed in at 118.9 with a body fat of 18 percent. I had entered the wrong height info is why I got 33 percent However I find it hard to believe im 18 percent since Im pretty damn skinny with the exception of some tummy fat. oh well I am happy with my progress, just need to keep on with it.

I had to buy new whey today and got the one recommended onthis website ON gold standard whey, tried it today, not sure if im supposed to drink it with milk or what but with just water it tasted pretty flat. it was actually pretty good but tasted more water than chocolate hehe

[nickh]

WEEK 7, DAY 1

SICK

Squats - Completed 5x5 with 170lbs. Fairly easy, if i had not gained a few pounds this would be my 1.5 squat. breathing properly is helping big time. Just want to note that I do NOT go all the way down on my squats, I go just below paralell. I see chris(gym staff) doing them that way and it looks much harder

bench/rows - Completed both with 90lbs again because I had mistakenly thought I had done 85 previously, it was fairly easy because of this i think

dips - Completed 3x5 with 2.5lbs tucked between my calves, is that where its suppose to be??? still, pretty easy.

not feeling my best, coming down with something but im drinking to fight it off in the middle of the hottest weather we've had to date.

[nickh]

[b]WEEK 7, DAY 2

STILL SICK, GETTING WORSE

Squats - Got to 175 which is 1.5xbw but was unable to do proper form, could not go low enough, not sure if I should stay at 175 or not, I tried with 20lbs less and was able to do perfect reps, going past paralell. Should I go back down or stay at 175 and try again, suggestions anyone? Maybe I should seeing as its still early in the program and the rest of my body hasnt really kept up with squats.

Overhead Press - finished at 5/5/4/4/2 with 70lbs. once again this proves to be the hardest of all exercises. but my upper body sorely needs it

deadlift - finished 1x5 with 155lbs. Getting harder, and preparing to lift it off the ground seems to be the hardest part

chinups - completed 3x5 with bw, tried to put a 5lb plate but couldn't jump up to the pullup bar with it .... need to find a weighted belt, went to a couple sport stores and used stores but couldnt find any... no idea what it'd cost either

[nickh]

WEEK 7, DAY 3

BAD NEWS

SQUATS - completed 5x5 at 175lbs, felt alot easier this time and my form was alot better, except for an unexpected gym staff telling me my kneeds were passing my toes, suppose I need to monitor that. feel like if i go back any further ill tip over should i stop at this weight for nowÉ

BENCH - completed 5x5 at 95lbs, now this was especially hard, and the last 2 sets would be impossible if wasnt for my spot. not sure if I should count that as 5x5 or what

ROW - completed 5x5 at 95lbs, seemed pretty easy for some reason...

DIPS - completed 3x5 with 5lbs, felt the weight but still completed it fairly easy.

On to the bad news, in addtion to my diet being crap latey(eating out...) I found out today that the gym is closing for the entire month of august right up until sept 2nd. this sucks! I have not missed a day so far and not sure what to do now... i can not skip an entire month I will lose all the progress I have made and im not ready to do that. I really dont know what to do, dont have equipment for a home gym and im not even sure if other gyms will allow me to purchase a month or 12 visits which is how much I need for august... BAH

[nickh]

WEEK 8, DAY 1

OW

Squats - Completed again at 175lbs, will up again since I have seen to gotten form better, though I still feel like my knees are sticking out a bit, will have to ask for someone to monitor

Overheadpress - completed at 5/5/4/2/2 with 70lbs, ok this just got worse and it goes without saying this is the exercise i hate the most because I keep failing

deadlift - completed 3x5 with 160lbs. doing well with form and the grip seems to be doing ok aswell

pullups - finished 5/5/2 with 5lbs, this got harder with the extra weight as it is especially hard to pullup from a dead hang when i put the weight between my feet

i have been having a bit of knee and ankle soreness, not sure if it is specficially the squats but i have been very active lately, after the gym yesterday I did my 2nd 10+km walk through the humber trail along with some biking. maybe i should just rest today but i get antsy with the nice weather outside just waiting to be enjoyed!

also my weight *seems* to be holding steady at 119lbs now. I read an interesting article linked from another digg article about a 500lb woman. article is here http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/08/health/08fat.html?_r=2&scp=5&sq=obesity+starvation&st=nyt&oref=slogin&oref=slogin , basically i agree, i have tried to gain weight by eating alot, and by that i mean EVERYTHING, and went up to 130 but lost it all without even trying!

[nickh]

Oh and I may be able to work out at another gym on campus, need to look into that *cross fingers*

[nickh]

despite knowing i should of rested today i just had to go biking today, road the humber trail today from my house down to old mill back up to finch then back home. i must say it was definitely harder than i thought, easily the furthest i've ever rode and possibly the hardest workout i've ever had, my legs are absolutely dead.... which may not be good tomorrow for squats on the plus side i enjoyed the hot sun today and i loved every sweaty minute of it(hope that didnt sound gay) oh yes and i was so worried about riding on the roads today, turned out fine and i didnt get run over hehe

[nickh]

im still alive and working out, however I missed fridays workout and monday i will have to go over to the other gym on campus, we'll see how that works out, will update later